William Rivers Pitt | An Open Letter to Lovers of the Gun

[billh58]

73. I agree with your assertion that

"you will always have some people who will do what they will no matter the laws you make," and the same is true for drunk drivers. I am not advocating imposing undue restrictions on law-abiding citizens, but focusing on criminals and irresponsible gun owners in the same fashion that we have used to steadily reduce automobile deaths.

I advocate automatic jail time for the illegal possession and/or carry of a gun, with much harsher penalties for the use of a firearm in the commission of a crime (extended minimum sentences). I advocate the same harsh treatment of those caught in the straw purchase of a gun for someone else. I advocate universal background checks, and a national database which includes mental health and criminal histories. I advocate gun registration and licensing for all handguns, and the mandatory safe storage of all guns.

I realize that these are all controversial subjects, and that there are good arguments both pro and con -- but we need to at least start the conversation somewhere. As with all compromise, each side must be willing to address the problem (gun violence) and negotiate a reasonable solution.

The right-wing NRA and other gun lobby groups have falsely framed the argument into an "us and them" shouting match by using fear tactics such as "the Democrats are coming for your guns." The Democratic Party platform does NOT advocate the confiscation of guns, and in fact states support for the Second Amendment.

http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Democratic_Party_Gun_Control.htm

Let's start with the premise that guns are potentially very dangerous weapons, and are a public health menace when in the hands of criminals and the mentally incompetent, and work from there to find some common ground on how best to address a solution.