Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

TygrBright

(20,733 posts)
Mon Dec 17, 2012, 02:32 AM Dec 2012

A Gun Sanity Agenda

Proposals to Regulate the Classification and Identification of Firearms:

Establish three categories of legal firearms:
  • Category 1 would include antique and collectable guns manufactured prior to 1890, .22 rifles and small-caliber, non-automatic handguns.
  • Category 2 would include most non-auto and restricted magazine size semi-auto hunting and sporting guns.
  • Category 3 would include expanded magazine size semi-auto and full-auto guns.

Every legal gun would be required to have a FIN (unique Firearm Identification Number) engraved permanently on the gun, similar to the VIN on an automobile. Guns manufactured prior to the implementation of the FIN system may be retained legally if they are engraved with a FIN by a licensed gun dealer or gunsmith and the FIN registered.

Proposals to Regulate the Storage, Use, Transportation, and Insurance of Firearms:

Storage, Use and Transportation
  • Category 1 guns may be secured at the discretion of the owner, with a locked gun safe preferred but not legally required. Category 1 handguns may be carried concealed by the owner with an additional permit issued at the discretion of the licensing authority, and may be fired on the owner's property.
  • Category 2 guns would be required to be secured in an approved, locked storage safe on the owner's premises when not in use for sporting or recreational purposes at a licensed gun sports facility or by permit, for hunting. Guns may be transported between the owner's locked storage and a gun sports facility or hunting area in an approved locked transport safe. Guns in storage or transport are required to be unloaded and additionally locked with a trigger guard or other approved device disabling the firing mechanism.
  • Category 3 guns would be required to be secured in an approved firearms storage location such as a licensed range and storage facility or law enforcement station. Guns may be transported between such a storage facility and a licensed gun sports facility or range in a locked transport safe which may be opened only by facility or range manager on the premises of the facility or range. Category 3 guns would not be legal for hunting and may not legally be fired anywhere except at an approved range or gun sports facility.

Insurance
  • Category 1 and 2 guns retained by the owner solely for purposes of display in an approved locked display safe, and removed for examination only with a trigger guard or other approved device disabling the firing mechanism need not be insured.
  • Category 1 and 2 guns retained by the owner for purposes involving firing the guns, such as sporting and competition, must be insured by the owner for liability and a certificate of insurance must be presented at the renewal of the firearms license and at any required safety inspection.
  • Category 3 guns must be covered under the liability insurance of the approved storage facility and under the liability insurance of any approved range or gun sports facility at which the guns are fired.

Proposals to Regulate the Ownership and Use of Firearms

For each gun, the owner or purchaser is required to maintain a current license, which must be renewed every two years in the case of Category 1 guns, and annually for Category 2 and 3 guns.

The qualifications for initially obtaining a license will include:
  • Evidence of successful completion of an approved firearms safety and operations class, and an acceptable score on a written licensing exam to ensure understanding of the regulations for ownership and use. In the case of an individual already licensed, and seeking licensure for an additional gun(s), the written exam may be waived.
  • Completion of a health and safety questionnaire. Individuals who report conditions that may pose possible health or safety questions, such as certain medications or medical conditions that may preclude safe usage, the presence of small children in a home where Category 1 or 2 guns will be stored, etc., may be required to undergo additional qualification by a physician or by a safety officer to ensure appropriate safe storage/use prior to the license being issued.
  • Completion of a criminal background check. Individuals with a recent arrest history involving violent offenses including domestic violence, and individuals with a felony conviction history shall be disqualified from licensure, but may petition for a waiver at the discretion of the licensing authority.
  • Evidence of insurance for Category 1 and Category 2 guns that will be used for sporting or competition.

Qualifications for license renewal will include:
  • Inspection of the licensed gun, inspection of storage equipment or facility records at the discretion of the licensing authority, and an acceptable record of safety compliance with no more than two safety violation warning tags since issuance or previous renewal.
  • Completion of an updated safety and health questionnaire.
  • Evidence of successful completion of an approved firearms safety and operations refresher class no more than three years ago.
  • Evidence of insurance for Category 1 and Category 2 guns that will be used for sporting or competition.

Individuals with more than two warning violation tags, or with potential safety issues identified during the inspection or by their questionnaire responses, may petition for review and waivers for renewal at the discretion of the licensing authority.

Proposals to Regulate Sales of Firearms:

Firearms may be sold only on the physical premises of a licensed dealer. A licensed dealer must:
  1. Deal SOLELY in firearms, ammunition, accessories, range and gun sports services, and licensed firearms storage services. (No gun show sales, no Wal-Mart or sporting goods store sales, no Internet sales.)
  2. Have the sale premises licensed and regularly inspected for security and safety.
  3. Maintain all firearms stock (guns and ammunition) in approved, regularly-inspected secure on-premises storage.
  4. Comply with inventory management and reporting requirements and submit sales and inventory records for review on a regular basis.
  5. Retain all purchased guns on premises until the owner exhibits a valid license for them, and release Category 2 and Category 3 guns to the owner for removal from the premises only in an approved and category-appropriate transport safe.
  6. Pass a criminal background check and a health and safety examination.
  7. Maintain valid and sufficient liability insurance for all firearms stock on their premises.
  8. Pass an annual license review and renewal.


A similar set of regulations would apply to the operators of premises licensed as ranges or gun sports facilities, as well as additional safety requirements. Land certified for firearms hunting would also be required to maintain legal safety practices and police compliance with transport, inspection, and safe usage regulations.

The Gun Sanity Agenda is not comprehensive. It leaves most terms undefined ("small caliber," "restricted magazine size," etc.) and the definition of those terms would require much negotiation and wrangling. It would take a generation or two to fully implement. It will not solve all problems, and it will leave everyone unhappy with some or all of its provisions. But it would be a start, and it would address many of the most egregious issues of safety and regulation.

It is also totally impractical, since the gun industry and their helots in the NRA still own far too many legislators at every level.

But a girl can dream.

wistfully,
Bright
6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
A Gun Sanity Agenda (Original Post) TygrBright Dec 2012 OP
Thankfully none of this will ever come to pass Hoopermazing Dec 2012 #1
well Livluvgrow Dec 2012 #3
Can you say more about why? n/t TygrBright Dec 2012 #5
Very thoughtful sarisataka Dec 2012 #2
Thanks, I was hoping for such a response. TygrBright Dec 2012 #4
Shameless self-kick in hope of getting feedback. TygrBright Dec 2012 #6
 

Hoopermazing

(6 posts)
1. Thankfully none of this will ever come to pass
Mon Dec 17, 2012, 02:40 AM
Dec 2012

I loathe the Republican Party with every fiber of my being. However, I would never stipulate to any of that nonsense. And, I might actually have to vote for a Republican (something I've never considered) if that becomes the policy stance of the Democratic Party.

Livluvgrow

(377 posts)
3. well
Mon Dec 17, 2012, 02:51 AM
Dec 2012

what is your solution to our problem then. 8875 people killed by gunfire last year and over 90 thousand shot. I think that fits the description of a problem, and I like to think we Americans are problem solvers.

sarisataka

(18,220 posts)
2. Very thoughtful
Mon Dec 17, 2012, 02:41 AM
Dec 2012

and I could agree to many of your points without argument. Others, well...

The main thing is that it is a concrete proposal and is a starting point that could move in either direction. It is definitely better than most 'feel good' ideas and much better worded than the AWB was.

TygrBright

(20,733 posts)
4. Thanks, I was hoping for such a response.
Mon Dec 17, 2012, 02:53 AM
Dec 2012

I don't even claim that I like all the items proposed. But yeah, it's intended as a starting point.

I'll be interested to learn more from any non-kneejerk reactions and non-talkingpoint responses.

I freely admit I don't know much about guns, but was concentrating primarily on two issues: safety, and keeping them out of the hands of criminals.

This wouldn't accomplish either end perfectly (I don't think anything would.) But it would provide a starting point.

sadly,
Bright

TygrBright

(20,733 posts)
6. Shameless self-kick in hope of getting feedback.
Mon Dec 17, 2012, 06:38 PM
Dec 2012

I'm wondering how these ideas strike others, is all.

curiously,
Bright

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»A Gun Sanity Agenda