Laws won’t stop every shooting. But laws can give a message that we will not tolerate the random carnage and get us to think differently about our gun culture. This does not happen in other countries where there are strict laws and an understanding that gun violence is not acceptable or to be tolerated.
Firs up, OF COURSE this happens in other countries. That’s an abject lie. But the bigger quote is how laws don’t PREVENT crime, they only allow punishment under the law when a crime is committed, and defines what that crime is so that lawful people can avoid committing crimes at their own discretion.
The tin ear part is Joan’s intentional ignorance and misrepresentation of the law. She’s voicing her feelings as support for passing MORE laws against guns and gun ownership…meanwhile she’s ignoring the laws we have already on the books. When lawful gun owners say “Don’t pass new laws, enforce the laws we have!” they mean it.
In America it is illegal to own a gun if:
-You are a convicted Felon
-You have Been committed for mental health involuntarily
-You are the subject of a protection order, or have been convicted of domestic violence.
-You are an addict of a controlled substance
-You are not a legal resident of this country
-You have warrants for your arrest
We have laws about HOW you can buy a gun:
-All handgun purchases must be through an FFL IN YOUR STATE or from a resident of the same state you reside in.
-All Long Guns must be purchased through an FFL or from a resident of the same state you reside in.
-You may not knowingly sell any firearms to any of the above prohibited people.
And of course Behavior is heavily regulated.
-It is illegal to commit an act of murder, assault, or manslaughter. Gun or no gun.
-It is illegal to threaten somebody. Gun or no gun.
-It is illegal to provide a dangerous environment to children in your house or on your property. This includes guns.
These are all FEDERAL laws. Further states have all sorts of miss-mash about what guns are allowed or not. How one can legally carry and where, and what constitutes legal carry.
All of this above is true, and yet Joan is STILL wringing her hands. These laws do NOT stop criminals because they are NOT enforced. Most of the publicized mass-shooters were people who did not violate any of the possession laws, but COULD have if law enforcement had done anything when these individuals were brought to their attention or placed in their custody.
The laws are on the books….they are simply not enforced in any reasonable sense.
Why would Joan’s pet laws be enforced any better than laws that have been around since before I was born?
