Post #3: Gun Control

[mattwade]

First off, why am I worried? Because I'm not sure if I will have enough money to pay my taxes, unfortunately. I'm pretty much living paycheck to paycheck due to a large medical bill in December (for cutting my thumb, but it was a deep cut). Anyway, today's topic is gun control. I firmly believe that the U.S. government should impose stricter gun control laws, because I think that gun ownership should be a privilege and not a right. In my humble opinion, the Second Amendment is extremely outdated. The authors of the Constitution intended the Second Amendment to permit U.S. citizens to defend themselves from British invaders, but the British have not attacked our country since the early 19th Century. True, Americans should be able to defend themselves from muggers, rapists, burglars and other criminals, but most Americans do not live in high-crime areas where such attacks regularly occur. With that in mind, I propose that the ATF require all prospective gun owners to pass a firearms exam. Similar to a driver's license exam, this exam would consist of written and physical sections (in this case, marksmanship). The exam would definitely prioritize safety, with an emphasis on the knowledge and application of safety locks, proper handling (stance, grip, and aim, among other considerations) and proper storage. All licensed gun owners would need to show their license whenever they practice at a shooting range, enter a marksmanship competition, apply for a job that requires the possession and use of firearms, or display the gun at a museum, fan-oriented convention, or other heavily-populated locale. I also think that the government should try harder to reduce the number of guns in circulation around the country. All police precincts should either destroy or otherwise decommision all guns that they confiscate from criminals, and the federal government should forbid any sale of assault weapons or heavy artillery to civilians (ex. bazookas, AK-47s, and assault rifles). Together, these and other gun control tactics would heavily reduce the high number of daily shooting deaths in the United States. And that would be a huge victory in the War Against Terrorism.

Sincerely,

M. Wade
Esquire