how do we keep the war on guns from being like the war on drugs?

[DonCoquixote]

Now, let me clear what this post is NOT:

It is not a denial of the fact that our gun policy needs to change. There is no reason a civilian should have military weaponry, period, and yes, automatic and semi automatic weapons with magazines are military weapons. Gun shows that do NOT background check, and sales of weapons other than by dealers that can lose their license, must be phased out.

So, now that I have said this, let me offer a problem that needs an answer.

The war on drugs is rightfully considered foolish, because you cannot stop people from buying something they want. It only winds up catching those who cannot afford lawyers and stuffs the prison system.

SO, consider that the same criminal networks that sell grass sell guns, how do you avoid making another prison stuffing fiasco? Laugh if you want to, but if you have $100 dollars, you can get a dimebag and a 9mm, often from the same person. How would you stop a back market without running into the exact same mess?

My answer would be, regulate guns to death, tax it to death, but do not force gun sales to go underground. Make Jimmy the gun and herbal medicine seller account for every bullet, and every stem and seed, but make it so that people will still want to frequent Jimmy's shop.

I am saying this because I do not want to see the ATF, or perhaps the soon to be division of Cannabis, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms have to become some big monster just to deal with Bubba that thinks any regulation of his habits and toys is tyranny.

[drm604]

1. The two things really aren't comparable.

Many drugs can be grown or manufactured by what are essentially amateur operations. Other than crude zip guns, the same isn't true of guns.

The manufacture of large numbers of high powered automatic or semi-automatic weapons takes a large industrial operation. It's not something that can be done in someone's basement or an RV in the desert.

[hack89]

2. There are no poppy or coca farms in America

yet no shortage of cocaine and heroin. Guns and ammo are manufactured globally. If cartels can smuggle drugs by the pallet load, then handguns and ammo are not a problem.

Besides - there are 300 million fire arms already within our borders. They are not going to magically disappear.

Criminals will always get guns.

[drm604]

3. Other countries manage it somehow.

As far as I know, there aren't a lot of fully automatic weapons in the hands of the public. How are we achieving that?

[Thor_MN]

6. By mass producing relatively cheap semi-autos...

[LAGC]

9. That's because there's simply no demand for fully-automatic weapons.

They waste ammo too fast, are very inaccurate, and just aren't well-suited for home-defense OR target practice.

Semi-autos on the other hand...

[Thor_MN]

5. I really hate to say it, but fully automatic AK designs can be made with not much machinery at all.

It's certainly not mass production, but they make them all over the world. And if you are making black market firearms, there's no reason to settle for semi-auto.

[DonCoquixote]

7. True enough

and also, let's not forget, the Chinese make thousands of them...There would be no way to block them for getting in.

[Iggy]

4. I'm in Favor of a War on WAR....

:

[ileus]

8. Mexico would start running drugs AND guns north.

[Warren Stupidity]

10. nobody is seriously proposing prohibition of all guns

we are proposing the banning of sales of "assault weapons", and no I am not going to discuss exactly what that means, and on "high capacity magazines", and again the details are TBD.

So, normal people will be able to buy normal guns. A dozen or so whacked out RKBA absolutists will go to the mattresses and die fighting the gummint over their precious toys.

As there will continue to be a legal market for normal guns, a prohibition fueled black market will not develop. The vast majority of gun owners will be fine with the new restrictions.

[jmg257]

11. Drugs are physically addicting, guns aren't. Make the risks of criminal gun possession

severe enough, and most people will think REAL hard about breaking the law.

Once the normal people decide it just ain't worth it, the typical criminal types will have alot less places to go to get theirs.


In just 10 years we sent men to the moon simply because we decided we wanted to go, AND fought a major war overseas. I think if there was a true determined effort to seriously reduce the levels of gun violence, it could happen. We the people just need to make up our minds that is what we want.