"Let me take you and bill shooting with me. Next thing ya khow, you will be buying your own glock and poping holes in paper .. deal?"

Don't bet on it...I had a gun once- in Kansas- a cheap .22 long barrel. Test fired it ONCE. It was stolen. Cops recovered it at a pawn shop, and told me I could get it back by paying the pawn shop for its trouble! I said that if they couldn't restore MY property, I think I don't need ANY guns.

As I mentioned above, I believe that "going shooting" (that is, **playing** with guns and having 'fun' tends to make people think they NEED them around as toys. Training? You really think training will overcome the urge of idiots to 'play carelessly'? Or of criminals to STEAL weapons if they can't buy a car full at a gun show?

Regulations...even if we craft perfect ones... are almost too late now. Too many illegal guns already out there. Still we need to try. Maybe GOOD regulations and GOOD enforcement will 'lower' the sad statistics in 40 years.... it sure won't stop the carnage.

What I see in all the posts by you 'responsible' gun owners is the idea that "I am sensible and follow the rules, so laws have to cater to MY rights, even if the same laws make it easy for the criminals and the mentally disturbed to ignore the rules"
Then you will say, "Well...if things are that bad, you'd best be glad that there ARE some responsible folk like us around...just in case 'something happens'. I rather suspect that more stuff 'happens' because so many people take extra chances when they think "I am armed, and can cope with problems." Hard to prove that...but...

   What do I think ought to be done? Sure... I have ideas. VERY heavy restrictions on sale of new weapons...and on all ammo. NO...I repeat...NONE.. of the assault weapons to be sold, and gradual reclaiming of all of them not controlled by law enforcement of the military. EVERY legal hand gun to be RE-registered and its owner to be vetted as having both skills and need to own hand guns! (yes..I know there are some who have such needs). NO huge gun shows... not just 'more rules' and fuzzy enforcement...no shows except for antiques and no ammo sold at shows. Then... really, really strong penalties for using a weapon in a crime, whether or not it was fired.
Under my system, Zimmerman would never have gotten NEAR a Glock, except illegally.... he sure would not have had a permit!


So... of course I know what chance those ideas have of being adopted... (take Bobert's $$$$ signs and triple them). And yes... IF any of my ideas were adopted in the future, some of the weapons current 'responsible' owners would have to be surrendered. I am trying to describe a system that would, if adopted, significantly reduce the carnage.... not a system that you 'like'.

What to suggest that MIGHT actually be adopted? I hardly know. The NRA is committed to stopping ANY reform... and they have millions of adherents who 'think' they are competent and have a 'need'...and already have guns...and a bumper sticker that says "...pry it out of my cold, dead hands."

Kinda hopeless looking, hmmmmm?

*I* try to stay WAY away from situations where idiots & criminals might be... but I live in a metropolitan area where reports of holdups within a couple miles of me are more & more common. *I* might be able to buy a gun, train in its use, and "defend my property" in certain ways...that I have never experienced yet. But in my neighborhood there are many who could NOT be trusted to own & use a gun.... who simply don't have the capacity or mindset....and *I* can't do Zimmerman-like vigilante patrols at night to protect my neighbors. They, it appears, will simply be the targets if things get worse....as will I... because I'm not gonna join the "pistol-packin' daddy" club.



Can you tell I am tired of the $$$$ fueled testosterone=guns problem today?