I agree that the assault weapons ban is not the answer. I think that high-capacity magazines and fully automatic weapons are not something everyone needs, and I don't object to legislation on specifics, but basing legislation on appearance is silly
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Also, targeting some of the NRA's pet rules would be nice. The fact that we can't even tell gun shops to do an inventory, and the ATF can't access that inventory, and the ATF has less than 3000 agents for the umpteen thousand gun shops, not to mention the fact that the Senate was given the job of selecting the ATF's director, which they have declined to do for many years now... Well, there's a lot. The NRA needs to be brought back down to size, or it can go away entirely as far as I'm concerned, but ya know, either way.
I didn't know that there was an armed guard at Columbine. Thanks for that. I do know that Columbine happened during the last assault weapon ban.
I can see dozens of scenarios that would make more guns in schools a terrible idea, starting with the unnecessary expense.
Thanks to Harper's, (http://harpers.org/archive/2010/08/happiness-is-a-worn-gun/) I can see how a serious gun enthusiast might think guns would make the world safer. That article was a fascinating read. Apparently, wearing a gun can make someone more aware and cautious. But the fallacy is that it wouldn't make everyone more aware and cautious. If I were forced to carry one, I would be more like John Travolta's character in Pulp Fiction; leaving it on the counter while I was in the bathroom.
I am deeply concerned that mental health registries would do nothing but add more stigma to mental illness.
And mental meh-ness. I once told a doctor that I was thinking about killing myself. I wasn't, though - I had some moderate depression issues based on my 100% travel job, but I wasn't that low. I just had a really crappy health care plan, and my previous two doctors stopped returning my calls for an appointment. If there was a mental health registry, that comment probably would have put me on it. The new doctor would have had to put me on it, just to cover his own ass from lawsuit. Then what happens with that registry information? How would a "Do not sell gun" rating have affected my background check when I applied for federal employment?
If I really did have thoughts about killing myself, I'd be stupid to mention it to my doctor if there was a mental health registry.
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I can see dozens of scenarios that would make more guns in schools a terrible idea, starting with the unnecessary expense.
Thanks to Harper's, (http://harpers.org/archive/2010/08/happiness-is-a-worn-gun/) I can see how a serious gun enthusiast might think guns would make the world safer. That article was a fascinating read. Apparently, wearing a gun can make someone more aware and cautious. But the fallacy is that it wouldn't make everyone more aware and cautious. If I were forced to carry one, I would be more like John Travolta's character in Pulp Fiction; leaving it on the counter while I was in the bathroom.
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And mental meh-ness. I once told a doctor that I was thinking about killing myself. I wasn't, though - I had some moderate depression issues based on my 100% travel job, but I wasn't that low. I just had a really crappy health care plan, and my previous two doctors stopped returning my calls for an appointment. If there was a mental health registry, that comment probably would have put me on it. The new doctor would have had to put me on it, just to cover his own ass from lawsuit. Then what happens with that registry information? How would a "Do not sell gun" rating have affected my background check when I applied for federal employment?
If I really did have thoughts about killing myself, I'd be stupid to mention it to my doctor if there was a mental health registry.
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