beardedbruce, sir: I count 13-19, depending on your reading, posts debating the gun laws BEFORE your suggestion that the subject matter be limited....and even more before my comment which you quote. *I* did not "(make) this thread into a gun/anti-gun debate."

But YOU, once again, offer up a straw man refutation of my points, presuming to compare a theoretical ban on free speech to THIS situation.

Mick...I will agree with you one one thing...*IF*, as is likely, private ownership of a wide variety of firearms is to continue, we desperately need a comprehensive, nation-wide computer system with databases of not only LEGAL owners, but of those judged NOT to be trusted with firearms.

Now, as a working idea, I think that it might be a good idea to rule that ALL firearms permits are to expire, in say, two years, and that ALL owners must re-apply within that period, with severe penalties for anyone found with unregistered guns after that. And VERY severe penalties for anyone found abusing the gun laws...either in sales or use.

Further, in my opinion, we need ONE set of laws, so that someone from DC cannot drive an hour into Virginia and buy what they wish. We need a FULL review of weapons and ammunition types and technology and revised laws reflecting a saner designation of things like 'semi-automatic', so that kids don't find it easy to get AK-47s....and must PROVE why they need certain types of clips!

Those are just quick brainstorming ....there might be more.