Should their be a public registry of Gun Owners?

DCal430

Diamond Member
Feb 12, 2011
6,020
9
81
Like we have a sex offender registry, what about a gun owner one. Anyone who owns a gun is registred along with their name and address. This way people can the area can know who does and doesn't own a gun, and who is a potential danger to the community. Seems fair enough, own a gun get on a public database.

I am sure I am not the only one who would like to know if any of my neighbors are harboring a gun or two or more.
 

piasabird

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
17,168
60
91
Didnt Canada tried to do this? It does not work! People can sell guns anytime they want to anyone they want! You can also make your own gun by buying the parts and assembling them yourself. You can also just build your own. Bolt action rifles are pretty easy to make or buy kits for. Some indian groups often sell guns also. It is not like an automobile that you have to Title and License to drive?
 

piasabird

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
17,168
60
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Why should you have to register a weapon if you already have a constitutional right to own it? Do you think all Hunting Knives should be registered also? Maybe Butcher Knives should be registered? Maybe Hammers and Baseball bats and Hatches and Axes should also also be registered. They can all be used as weapons???
 
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Doppel

Lifer
Feb 5, 2011
13,306
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Like we have a sex offender registry, what about a gun owner one. Anyone who owns a gun is registred along with their name and address. This way people can the area can know who does and doesn't own a gun, and who is a potential danger to the community. Seems fair enough, own a gun get on a public database.

I am sure I am not the only one who would like to know if any of my neighbors are harboring a gun or two or more.
the only actionable thing about such a registry is for burglars to hit the houses that don't own guns.

And it's there.
 

Jhhnn

IN MEMORIAM
Nov 11, 1999
62,365
14,685
136
No. There are entirely too many older & perfectly useable firearms out there that owners wouldn't register, & I don't think that should be defined as lawbreaking.

It's mission impossible, anyway. Exercise in futility. A way to make gun owners even nuttier than some already are.

Dumber than birth control counseling for Nuns.

Modern firearms can already be traced to the original purchaser, anyway- it just takes some legwork on the part of law enforcement.
 
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MovingTarget

Diamond Member
Jun 22, 2003
9,002
115
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No. You shouldn't have to register with the government to exercise your constitutional rights.
 

dmcowen674

No Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
54,889
47
91
www.alienbabeltech.com
Should their be a public registry of Gun Owners?

Like we have a sex offender registry, what about a gun owner one. Anyone who owns a gun is registred along with their name and address. This way people can the area can know who does and doesn't own a gun, and who is a potential danger to the community. Seems fair enough, own a gun get on a public database.

I am sure I am not the only one who would like to know if any of my neighbors are harboring a gun or two or more.

It is an American right to own a gun.

You should go on the knowledge that every single person is packing.

If you don't like it, you are free to leave the country.
 

Rainsford

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
17,515
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I don't think so, if only because just having a gun doesn't make you a danger to anyone nor does NOT having a gun mean you're safe.

I'd prefer a register of dipshits, but I don't think that's too practical ;)
 

HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
22,021
3
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Definitely, not only would it notify the community who is potentially dangerous, the way a sex offenders register does, but also it would help the police, they would know what is a proportionate response for arresting a given suspect, i.e. they'd know if they need to send in a SWAT team to arrest someone or if you average police man could do it safely. Everyone's a winner.

No downside....

In theory, but it may be difficult to put into place in America, it would have to be done state by state. I'm still all for it. Maybe everyone who owns a gun should have a license, like a driving license, to help them selling them, that way when you sell a gun you'd have to hand over a pink slip to be filled out, the same as you do with a car. Win Win.
 

Hayabusa Rider

Admin Emeritus & Elite Member
Jan 26, 2000
50,879
4,268
126
Definitely, not only would it notify the community who is potentially dangerous, the way a sex offenders register does, but also it would help the police, they would know what is a proportionate response for arresting a given suspect, i.e. they'd know if they need to send in a SWAT team to arrest someone or if you average police man could do it safely. Everyone's a winner.

No downside....

In theory, but it may be difficult to put into place in America, it would have to be done state by state. I'm still all for it. Maybe everyone who owns a gun should have a license, like a driving license, to help them selling them, that way when you sell a gun you'd have to hand over a pink slip to be filled out, the same as you do with a car. Win Win.

I think perhaps we should have a registry of people who don't have guns. How about those who don't have home alarms. Maybe the names of people the government doesn't like. The possibilities are endless.
 

PottedMeat

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
12,363
475
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I think perhaps we should have a registry of people who don't have guns. How about those who don't have home alarms. Maybe the names of people the government doesn't like. The possibilities are endless.

don't forget, we can sell those lists for big bucks too!
 

HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
22,021
3
76
I think perhaps we should have a registry of people who don't have guns. How about those who don't have home alarms. Maybe the names of people the government doesn't like. The possibilities are endless.

Don't have guns works, then you can infer who does.

Burglar alarms are irrelevant to others in the community.
People the government doesn't like....?
- The government doesn't "like" or "dislike" people.
- Why would that be of any use to anyone in the community...?
 

Rainsford

Lifer
Apr 25, 2001
17,515
0
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:thumbsup:

The sex offender registry tracks those who have committed crimes.

If DCal430 had asked for a gun offender registry then the OP wouldn't have just been baiting.

To be perfectly honest, I think the sex offender registry should be abolished as well. In both cases we're talking about a "registry" of people who currently aren't doing anything illegal.
 
May 16, 2000
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To be perfectly honest, I think the sex offender registry should be abolished as well. In both cases we're talking about a "registry" of people who currently aren't doing anything illegal.

This. Especially since the US defines 'sex offender' as all sorts of things that aren't crimes or immoral.
 

Darwin333

Lifer
Dec 11, 2006
19,946
2,329
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Like we have a sex offender registry, what about a gun owner one. Anyone who owns a gun is registred along with their name and address. This way people can the area can know who does and doesn't own a gun, and who is a potential danger to the community. Seems fair enough, own a gun get on a public database.

I am sure I am not the only one who would like to know if any of my neighbors are harboring a gun or two or more.

So you want to give the real bad guys the perfect tool to steal more guns from the good guys?

Are you sure you have thought this through? Why do you care if your neighbor has a gun unless they are batshit crazy or a felon? Shrug, there is a 50/50 chance they have one and if you have more than one neighbor the chances are high that at least one has a gun, be afraid..... very afraid.
 

HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
22,021
3
76
So you want to give the real bad guys the perfect tool to steal more guns from the good guys?

Are you sure you have thought this through? Why do you care if your neighbor has a gun unless they are batshit crazy or a felon? Shrug, there is a 50/50 chance they have one and if you have more than one neighbor the chances are high that at least one has a gun, be afraid..... very afraid.

If people steal your gun.

funny-picture-marine-machine-gun-crossbow-fail-420x360.jpg
 

Darwin333

Lifer
Dec 11, 2006
19,946
2,329
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Don't have guns works, then you can infer who does.

Burglar alarms are irrelevant to others in the community.

Ooh, maybe we can take a page out of the alarm book and put signs in peoples yards that say "There are NO guns in this house". I completely support that, especially after a natural disaster. Woulda saved me a bunch of time and effort during the aftermath of Katrina.
 

HAL9000

Lifer
Oct 17, 2010
22,021
3
76
Ooh, maybe we can take a page out of the alarm book and put signs in peoples yards that say "There are NO guns in this house". I completely support that, especially after a natural disaster. Woulda saved me a bunch of time and effort during the aftermath of Katrina.

I don't get it.
 

Darwin333

Lifer
Dec 11, 2006
19,946
2,329
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If people steal your gun.

funny-picture-marine-machine-gun-crossbow-fail-420x360.jpg

Its a lot easier if they have a database of who has a gun in their home now isn't it? I am sure you realize that people don't always carry all of their guns on their person at all times, aren't you? Do you also realize that there are times that no one is at home? Do you also realize that the gun, when no one is at home, will not shoot the bad guy all by itself?