Colorado passes Gun Control Laws

[Whacker]

We are hardly a free country, and we're becoming less free as myopic masses of idiots will happily and readily give up their hard earned rights because some politician with an agenda says it will make them safer.

Some hick terrorist in the middle of a desert with an AK is no threat to America and American freedom. The real threat, looming like a glacier, is our authoritarian government and apathetic population.

CR

The threat isn't all our government. The threat to gun rights is our friggin society and culture. We're watching generations of self-entitled, spoiled, idiotic brats being raised (or more precisely NOT raised) by an increasingly ignorant generation. We tried/are trying universal healthcare and ended up going about it all wrong. We're raising generations of bullies and narcissistic fools.

The change needs to happen in our homes. Kids need to learn responsibility, respect, humility, self control, and a slew of other things that have gone by the wayside. Legislating gun control isn't the answer. Forcing people to buy insurance from corrupt businesses isn't the answer. Religion is not the answer (I'd say it's the opposite of the answer in fact).

We've got some real problems.

[Strike For The South]

The threat isn't all our government. The threat to gun rights is our friggin society and culture. We're watching generations of self-entitled, spoiled, idiotic brats being raised (or more precisely NOT raised) by an increasingly ignorant generation. We tried/are trying universal healthcare and ended up going about it all wrong. We're raising generations of bullies and narcissistic fools.

The change needs to happen in our homes. Kids need to learn responsibility, respect, humility, self control, and a slew of other things that have gone by the wayside. Legislating gun control isn't the answer. Forcing people to buy insurance from corrupt businesses isn't the answer. Religion is not the answer (I'd say it's the opposite of the answer in fact).

We've got some real problems.

OMG have you seen this Socrates quote?

[Greyblades]

Why do you need more than 5?

[Montmorency]

Why do you need more than one?

[Major Robert Dump]

They can take my freedoms, but they will never take my potato guns. Or my sour cream bombs.

[Papewaio]

They can take my freedoms, but they will never take my potato guns. Or my sour cream bombs.

I think you've been cream pied enough...

[johnhughthom]

Why do you need more than 5?

6 people might break into his house.

Clearly the people behind this law understand that 15 people is the optimum number for a burglary, any more and they get in each other's way.

[Catiline]

It's like sneezing 8 times in a row, only the gun nuts need 15 rounds to get to their orgasm.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Okay, let's turn this thing the other direction. Question to those of you who support such gun control measures:

What level of personal firearm ownership (size, capability, etc.) is acceptable for self protection?

[Catiline]

In a sane country, none.

I read an endlessly entertaining thread yesterday elsewhere about what is appropriate to take on a first date in order to be fully prepared. There seemed to be a lot more votes for a gun than for a condom...

Who takes a date somewhere they think they'll need a gun?

[Lemur]

What level of personal firearm ownership (size, capability, etc.) is acceptable for self protection?

Realistically, given that there are more firearms than citizens in the USA, all talk of bans and confiscation is wildly unrealistic. Not to mention unconstitutional. So: let's get off that rocking horse, please.

"Assault" weapon bans are doomed to failure, given that fully automatic weapons are already (mostly) banned, and so "assault" bans inevitably focus on cosmetic features such as color, grip, muzzle bits, and so forth.

Magazine capacity bans are also doomed to failure, in their current forms. Given that the most popular handgun in the USA (the Glock 17) takes 17 round magazines out of the box, trying to force everyone to accept 10-round magazines is intrusive, counter-intuitive, and bound to fail. If someone wants to try to limit magazine size to, say, 20 rounds, they might be more likely to find support and (more importantly) compliance.

So those are the measures that are going to fail, one way or another. As for what is "acceptable" or what "ought to be," meh. Reality is what it is, our situation is what it is. The law should deal in realistic outcomes; unenforceable laws breed contempt, and laws that will not be complied with breed disrespect. To be avoided.

Universal background checks enjoy overwhelming support in both the gun owning community and non-gun owning community. Effort should be put into making this quick and easy. Anybody with a web browser and the proper credentials should be able to clear a buyer in minutes. (The NRA screams that this is the gateway drug to gun-grabbing and tyranny, but they scream that about everything. Hysteria is their default position. So I think it's wisest to ignore them.)

For some tangled reason involving weird amendments passed by paid-for congresscritters, the ATF is unable to effectively pursue straw buyers. Whatever welter of ill-intentioned legislation made that happen should be undone.

All research into gun violence is currently prohibited from Federal funding by law. Should be undone.

Gun dealers are not required to keep or show current inventories. Should be undone.

There are probably a few more common-sense moves that could be made to clean up the gun trade, but it's a workday, and that's all I got off the top of my head.

[HoreTore]

Okay, let's turn this thing the other direction. Question to those of you who support such gun control measures:

What level of personal firearm ownership (size, capability, etc.) is acceptable for self protection?

Easy: none.

Use of violence is the domain of the state, not the individual.

And, might I add, the police force should also be unarmed. Weapons should be accessible only when absolutely necessary.

[a completely inoffensive name]

The threat isn't all our government. The threat to gun rights is our friggin society and culture. We're watching generations of self-entitled, spoiled, idiotic brats being raised (or more precisely NOT raised) by an increasingly ignorant generation. We tried/are trying universal healthcare and ended up going about it all wrong. We're raising generations of bullies and narcissistic fools.

The change needs to happen in our homes. Kids need to learn responsibility, respect, humility, self control, and a slew of other things that have gone by the wayside. Legislating gun control isn't the answer. Forcing people to buy insurance from corrupt businesses isn't the answer. Religion is not the answer (I'd say it's the opposite of the answer in fact).

We've got some real problems.

Bunch of old white men passed gun control laws, yep, it's all the fault of the younglings.

[Major Robert Dump]

I wonder how many people who do not support closing the background check loopholes did support voter IDs.

LOLZ all around.

Hey, those gunrunners at gun shows and in newspapers are small, family businesses, they can't afford to run BG checks. OH WAIT CAPITALISM, GET OUT OF THE WAY, BITCH