Gun registration?

[Tim]

I'm bringing this from another thread.

Do you think it would be a good idea to have gun registration and or classes for safety?

I have always supported an idea that all guns must be registered and if you own a gun you must have a firearm licence.

It would imagine it would work just like owning a car. If you drive, you must pass a test and get your photo id which is good for 5 years, then you need to renew.
For each car you drive, it needs to be registered with the state.

The DMV could be updated to accommodate the new licence and just have an extra stamp on you card. So instead of a M for motorcycle, you would have a F for firearm...

So what do you think?

 

[Kyle B]

I doubt people who want guns with the intent to hurt others will comply with this. Seems like just a hoop that a law-abiding citizen will have to jump through.

A gun safety class seems good though.

 

[Joe the meek]

I'm bringing this from another thread.

Do you think it would be a good idea to have gun registration and or classes for safety?

I have always supported an idea that all guns must be registered and if you own a gun you must have a firearm licence.

It would imagine it would work just like owning a car. If you drive, you must pass a test and get your photo id which is good for 5 years, then you need to renew.
For each car you drive, it needs to be registered with the state.

The DMV could be updated to accommodate the new licence and just have an extra stamp on you card. So instead of a M for motorcycle, you would have a F for firearm...

So what do you think?

Yes.

Funny you started this thread because I found Pennsylvania one of the easiest places to get my conceal carry permit.

Walked into the sheriff's office, filled out some paperwork, and literally had the license in the mail box (Post Office box to boot) the very next day.

Here in NC, you must first take a mandatory class which includes pistol range qualification, then go to the sheriffs office to fill out the paperwork, get fingerprinted, give them a copy of your class certification, and then wait 90 days for state and federal review of any prior run in's with the law to determine if you should get the permit.

Nice thing is once you have your carry permit, other than a quick background check at the gun shop, you can buy a handgun on the spot with the permit.

 

[Johnfromokc]

100% for it. Far too many "Law abiding" idiots with guns today. And these law abiding idiots in large part enable the criminals to get guns. It is past time for some common sense regulation to be implemented.

 

[Panacea]

I'm all for education in every facet of life. I don't believe it can hurt.

 

[Zorak]

I am actually a bit shocked to learn you don't have firearm licenses. I had always assumed you did.

 

[Johnfromokc]

I am actually a bit shocked to learn you don't have firearm licenses. I had always assumed you did.

Like Joe said in another thread - all you have to do to own a firearm in the U.S. is be breathing and not been previously convicted of a felony. No permit whatsoever required to keep firearms in your home. Some states allow concealed carry with only an application and a small fee. Others require some safety training.

One thing is certain, with the vast number of idiots per square mile here, there are thousands of idiots with guns who are incidents awaiting the right set of circumstances to happen.

 

[Accountable]

I'm bringing this from another thread.

Do you think it would be a good idea to have gun registration and or classes for safety?

It'd be fine on a voluntary basis. I register my electronics when I buy them. classes are always a good idea.

Legislate?? No need.

I failed to follow safety procedures when using a new router (for woodworking) which resulted in me gouging a long ugly wound across my left palm. Shouldn't there be a law requiring a license and safety classes for routers?

Anybody can buy a chainsaw without a background check, and a falling tree can kill lots of people without anybody purposely aiming it. Shouldn't there be a law to regulate that?

 

[Tim]

It'd be fine on a voluntary basis. I register my electronics when I buy them. classes are always a good idea.

Legislate?? No need.

I failed to follow safety procedures when using a new router (for woodworking) which resulted in me gouging a long ugly wound across my left palm. Shouldn't there be a law requiring a license and safety classes for routers?

Anybody can buy a chainsaw without a background check, and a falling tree can kill lots of people without anybody purposely aiming it. Shouldn't there be a law to regulate that?

Then why have drivers licences? Why should I have to register my car and get a licence plate for it?

 

[Joe the meek]

It'd be fine on a voluntary basis. I register my electronics when I buy them. classes are always a good idea.

Legislate?? No need.

I failed to follow safety procedures when using a new router (for woodworking) which resulted in me gouging a long ugly wound across my left palm. Shouldn't there be a law requiring a license and safety classes for routers?

Anybody can buy a chainsaw without a background check, and a falling tree can kill lots of people without anybody purposely aiming it. Shouldn't there be a law to regulate that?

You referencing tools is a good example.

A gun is a tool, nothing more.

A router is designed to work with wood. A chainsaw is designed to cut timber. A car is designed to travel.

The difference between these and most other tools as compared to a gun? A gun is designed to kill, period.

Since you are buying a tool designed to kill, the requirements for owning and keeping one should be much higher than other tools.

Personally, there should be higher requirements IMO other than not being convicted of a crime for owning a tool designed to kill.

 

[Zorak]

Over here you do need a licence for a chainsaw I think. You definitely need one to cut down trees; a friend of mine worked at an xmas tree sales place. So hardly redwood logging; and needed a license and to pass a test.

 

[Joe the meek]

I am actually a bit shocked to learn you don't have firearm licenses. I had always assumed you did.

In some sense we do have firearm licensing.

The problem is, with 50 states, and each state having varying degrees of laws pertaining to handguns and rifles, it can get VERY confusing as to what each states legal requirements are (needless to say, if you live in that state, you should know your own state laws).

There are some guns sold in the U.S that are legal to buy in some states, but are illegal to buy in others.

When I drive to Pennsylvania from North Carolina, I normally have to cross Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. Even with my carry permit license, when I hit the Maryland state line, I have to unholster my gun, lock the gun and ammo up separately, and in the trunk while I'm in Maryland. If I didn't have my conceal carry permit, the weapon would have to be locked up during the entire trip.

When I left New York and was asked later to relocate to Albany New York, if I wanted to bring some of my rifles, it would of been illegal for me to bring them into the city limits if I chose to live there. Heck, the first time when I moved to NY I was informed that I would have to ship all my guns to a Federal Firearms license holder for them to hold my guns for the state to register them and run a back ground check on everything. I basically said screw that.


Problem is here in the U.S, it's the people who follow the laws that usually get arrested because of ignorance of some laws. It's the people who use guns in crime that don't care about the laws and ignore them.

 

[Tim]

Here in PA it's pretty open and easy for obtaining firearms and owning them.

To by a long gun you just need to be 18, no background check to waiting period, nothing but a single piece of paper asking a couple of questions.

To buy a handgun, you need to be 21 and pass an instant background check. There is no waiting period.

Long guns are not registered and can be sold person to person without going through any paperwork.

Handguns are registered and you must have them transfered through a gun dealer if you want to sell it.

PA is a "Shall issue state" meaning that if you apply for a carry permit, they MUST give you one after you pass the background check which takes about 2 weeks.

It's also an open carry state. You are allowed to walk around with a side arm without a carry permit as long as it's out in the open at all times... But you MUST have a carry permit if it ever goes in your vehicle. The ONLY time you can have a gun in your car is if you are driving to and from the range or gun shop and then you must have them locked up and separate from any ammo.

 

[Darrell]

I think a safety class and exam should be required.

However, I don't support making firearms registration mandatory.

 

[porterjack]

I dont think idiots or criminals will register or get educated

I think all we can hope is that when of the above fucks up with a weapon the law hammers them so they cannot repeat

 

[Joe the meek]

I think all we can hope is that when of the above fucks up with a weapon the law hammers them so they cannot repeat

Ultimately that is one part of this messed up equation. Most laws that are already on the books aren't strictly enforced for those who violate those laws.

 

[porterjack]

Ultimately that is one part of this messed up equation. Most laws that are already on the books aren't strictly enforced for those who violate those laws.

In Canada, those that espouse tougher sentances for criminals also oppose gun registration yet also want many of the judges to retire claiming they all have liberal adgendas

 

[Mercury]

.... hmmmmmm this is a good one.

I could see both sides of the argument on this one.

Pro: A required registration and licensing that expires in "x" amount of time would be great for being able to track weapons a lot more easily and also weed out some who simply should not own a firearm.

Con: It wouldn't do much for actual criminals as they would just get weapons through back alley transactions (like many do now anyway) and it would be just another expensive, unnecessary hoop to jump through for "law-abiding" citizens.

It would probably be a good idea overall since guns are seen as a "fun toy" a lot of the time with a lot of people.

I remember working with a technician that carried an AR-15 in his work truck and then had a .44 hand gun that he had a CC permit that he carried with him (even into customer houses ... not sure how that stands both legally and within the company's policy ... lol). Now this guy was REALLY knowledgeable about firearms and I would trust being around him while handling firearms. What I never FULLY understood is why people feel it necessary to have such a large arsenal of weapons. Fear of people? Fear of Government? Fear of a zombie apocalypse? Or just a simple hobby? Of course it will differ with the individual but I do always wonder about it.

 

[Kyle B]

Over here you do need a licence for a chainsaw I think. You definitely need one to cut down trees; a friend of mine worked at an xmas tree sales place. So hardly redwood logging; and needed a license and to pass a test.

Wow that's something. I've used a chainsaw a few times and have been fine. They seem pretty safe in my opinion if you respect that they're sharp, and don't act like an idiot.

Circular saws are dangerous as hell though. They seriously make me cringe. A few years ago my dad got a pretty nasty cut using one, thankfully it didn't take of his finger. They've done multiple stories on NPR about how dangerous those things are. There's even technology in the works to make them safer but companies don't wanna pay the extra cost.

 

[Kakapo Dundee]

Gun registration and training is a good idea. In this country it is mandatory.

http://www.police.govt.nz/service/firearms/arms-code.pdf

However, trying to establish responsible ownership where there are large numbers of guns already in circulation is more complex.