Well, since criminals aren't required to register their guns, and I'm not going to register mine, that makes me a criminal so I don't have to register mine.
Laws such as these produce useless information. You may learn that person X has registered weapons A, B, C. If you determine that person Y has not registered any weapons, then all that tells you is that person Y has not registered any weapons. If person X is found with weapon D that really tells you that a clerical error has occurred. Is the point to create criminals or to determine how relatively safe you are when encountering person Y? You are safer to presume that everyone is armed until determined otherwise.
If instead you kept a list only of all those who are prohibited, then when you encounter person Z and he possesses a prohibited weapon and he is on the prohibited list, then you have grounds to arrest him on the mere possession charge. Otherwise, you need to evaluate whether the weapon was misused. If he possessed a weapon, has not misused the weapon, and is not a prohibited person then you can deduce that he has acted normally. This type of system would be easier and less costly to maintain. Presence on the prohibited list would be public information and can be challenged. No licensing scheme needs to be maintained. Non-presence on the prohibited list is your license. Checks on transactions can be performed easily since presence on the list would be public information available to all, like a listed phone number.
So who would be on the prohibited list? Those adults who are incompetent and are not responsible for their actions, who have a guardian appointed to make decisions for them. They also are not subject too military conscription, do not have the right to vote, may not serve on a jury or grand jury and may not hold public office by election or appointment. They may not sign contracts. In essence, they are adults who are still treated as juveniles, which includes those incarcerated or committed to institutions. If someone is free enough to serve probation at home and enter contracts, then their rights and freedoms are restored, including the civil obligations listed above, including the right to arms. They are completely responsible for their actions. If they cannot be responsible for their decisions and actions, then the judicial system should retain them with rehabilitation and periodic evaluation to reduce the cost of long term incarceration and institutionalization. There should be no intermediate status of civil rights - either you have them or you do not.
So how do you know whether someone may be armed and potentially dangerous? Until determined otherwise, they all are.
So how would this make us all safer? Take the cost savings and spend it in education and training. Promote personal responsibility and safety. Treat weapons training like first aid and CPR training, available to all.
After all, we can do no worse than Orlando office DEA agent Lee Paige:
Well, since criminals aren't required to register their guns, and I'm not going to register mine, that makes me a criminal so I don't have to register mine.
ReplyDeleteRight?
Very good point. This will create several new criminals out of people who have never had a parking ticket.
ReplyDeleteLaws such as these produce useless information. You may learn that person X has registered weapons A, B, C. If you determine that person Y has not registered any weapons, then all that tells you is that person Y has not registered any weapons. If person X is found with weapon D that really tells you that a clerical error has occurred. Is the point to create criminals or to determine how relatively safe you are when encountering person Y? You are safer to presume that everyone is armed until determined otherwise.
ReplyDeleteIf instead you kept a list only of all those who are prohibited, then when you encounter person Z and he possesses a prohibited weapon and he is on the prohibited list, then you have grounds to arrest him on the mere possession charge. Otherwise, you need to evaluate whether the weapon was misused. If he possessed a weapon, has not misused the weapon, and is not a prohibited person then you can deduce that he has acted normally.
This type of system would be easier and less costly to maintain. Presence on the prohibited list would be public information and can be challenged. No licensing scheme needs to be maintained. Non-presence on the prohibited list is your license. Checks on transactions can be performed easily since presence on the list would be public information available to all, like a listed phone number.
So who would be on the prohibited list? Those adults who are incompetent and are not responsible for their actions, who have a guardian appointed to make decisions for them. They also are not subject too military conscription, do not have the right to vote, may not serve on a jury or grand jury and may not hold public office by election or appointment. They may not sign contracts. In essence, they are adults who are still treated as juveniles, which includes those incarcerated or committed to institutions. If someone is free enough to serve probation at home and enter contracts, then their rights and freedoms are restored, including the civil obligations listed above, including the right to arms. They are completely responsible for their actions. If they cannot be responsible for their decisions and actions, then the judicial system should retain them with rehabilitation and periodic evaluation to reduce the cost of long term incarceration and institutionalization. There should be no intermediate status of civil rights - either you have them or you do not.
So how do you know whether someone may be armed and potentially dangerous? Until determined otherwise, they all are.
So how would this make us all safer? Take the cost savings and spend it in education and training. Promote personal responsibility and safety. Treat weapons training like first aid and CPR training, available to all.
After all, we can do no worse than Orlando office DEA agent Lee Paige:
http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2011/10/daniel-zimmerman/dea-agent-lee-paige-still-wont-go-away/
Notice that the audience learned enough quickly to demand that agent Paige put the rifle down before he repeated his performance with his pistol.
At least we know where his inspiration comes from:
ReplyDelete"A system of licensing and registration is the perfect device to deny gun ownership to the bourgeoisie."
- Vladimir Ilyich Lenin