Anything that can slow 'mass murders' is worth utilizing.
Smaller clips would at least make the killer take time to reload, thus giving an opportunity to STOP HIM.
I agree, but I don't think smaller magazine capacities is a reliable way to do this. It's a lot quicker to drop a magazine and insert a fresh one than it is to clear a jammed magazine, and quicker yet to just throw the gun and start shooting with another one.
It is way past time to enact common sense.
Folks want a rifle to hunt, fine.
Folks want a hand gun to protect themselves, take a course & be sure you're not a nut case with a history of abuse and or mental illness.
Fair enough.
Let's say Joe Schmo goes to his local gun shop, saying he needs a rifle to take care of some coyotes that are eating his chickens at night. He fills out the paperwork, the shop runs a background check, Joe passes the background check (which means he is not a known felon, not a drug abuser, not insane, or any of a number of disqualifiers), and takes his new purchase home. Heck, let's say he had to wait a week (is there a waiting period in NY?) and take a class first, then took his rifle home.
Now what if he lied to the gun shop, and while he does have chickens getting eaten by coyotes, he bought the rifle to shoot his neighbor who has been parking too close to the mailbox?
How are you going to ensure that the rifle was purchased for legitimate reasons?
I tell you this, if hunting is the only reason one can buy a rifle, then a LOT of people are going to suddenly take up hunting. Or if you allow competitive shooting as a valid reason, some people will take up competitive shooting instead of hunting.
In order to drive a car we need to pass tests, & if we wear glasses that is added to your license, if you have seizures you must state that.
The same should apply to own a weapon of mass destruction, like a motor vehicle is.
In order to purchase a gun, one does have to pass a background check in most cases, and a number of things can disqualify you (if you are interested, do a Google search on "ATF Form 4473" and you can see the questions covered). As for a safety class, I personally recommend it for anyone who is interested in owning a firearm, or if one lives with someone else who owns a firearm - even if there is no intent to use it for anything other than hunting or sport. For safety reasons, everyone should know how to safely handle a gun, IMO. For the record, I have ALWAYS recommended this - now as an instructor, I can help someone implement the plan, as well.
As for the glasses, I don't think that would fly. I, for example, wear corrective lenses. However, when shooting at the range alone, I do not. When I take students to the range, I do wear glasses, because I have to be able to tell them where their shots are hitting the target so they can make corrections. Perhaps if you are legally blind, you should not be issued a carry license, but to prohibit you from even owning a firearm might be considered extreme (legally blind doesn't mean you can't see, after all).
What is the point of rules that are not enforced?
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