Shooty Shooty Bang Bang

I don't like guns. I don't like the noise they make, I don't like what they are manufactured to do, I don't allow them in my home.
However.

I do not believe that we as a country need to BAN all guns. I don't think that everyone should be forced to turn in their guns. In a perfect world there would be no need for guns. This is not a perfect world.

But I do think that we have a problem with the 2nd amendment, and I think that it needs to be ammended.

First off, the biggest problem I see is that everyone and his 3rd cousin twice removed with a clubfoot believes that the 2nd amendment to the Constitution outlines a GOD GIVEN RIGHT to own whatever firearm they desire. That anyone, and everyone, has a RIGHT to have a weapon.

However, just as we all know that an automobile, or a chainsaw, or any other sharp, pointy, heavy, or otherwise dangerous piece of equipment should be kept out of the hands of those who are incompetent to operate them safely (me!!) - but for the damned 2nd ammendment, guns fall into that category as well.

Yes. We need to educate people on the safe use/handling of firearms. In fact, I need to get some education on that myself. Not that I will EVER purchase or otherwise own a firearm, but should I encounter one that I need to move, or transport or take away from a child, I want to know the correct way to do so.

Now, I'm almost 57 years old. In 57 years I have NEVER ONCE needed a gun. Maybe I'm just unbelievably lucky - but I don't think so. I think that a lot of people who think they NEED a gun, are actually people who just WANT a gun - for whatever reason. Maybe they WANT it to shoot at targets. I'm ok with that. Maybe they are farmers/ranchers who WANT it to keep varmints from their crops/livestock. I'm ok with that. Maybe they are sportsmen who WANT to hunt and eat their kills. I'm ok with that. Maybe they WANT it because they live in a very crime-ridden neighborhood with few law enforcement officers and think they need it to protect their homes (don't get me started on stupidity like concealed-carry and stand-your-ground bullshit). I don't like it, but I'm ok with that.

I am NOT ok with those who want to own guns as penis-extenders or penis-replacements (women) - who think owning/carrying a gun makes them badass, macho, sexually attractive. I'm NOT ok with people who think they need a gun in case someone is elected to public office whom they do not like/agree with (or has the wrong-color skin), so they can "water the tree of liberty".

In my mind and opinion, both those kinds of people are just as mentally disturbed as Adam Lanza or James Holmes. I don't WANT an army of George Zimmerman clones shooting up my neighborhood because of their racial prejudices and Rambo-Wannabe-ism.

Now, the NRA and their dupes will parrot bumper-sticker-phrases like "If we criminalize guns, then only criminals will have guns" or "Maybe we should ban all cars", or "Everyone talks about doing something about guns - how about doing something about mental health instead"? Nobody has ever been able to tell me what should be done about mental health, however.

Suggesting limiting gun ownership to those who have passed a qualifiying psych exam turns ordinarily sane people into rabid, mouth-foaming Ted Nugent fans, clinging to their rifles and screaming epithets.

And to that end - I think we need to repeal the 2nd amendment. I think it needs to be REPLACED with something that acknowledges that while there ARE some reasons to own a gun - not everyone is suited for owning one. We don't allow blind people to drive cars. We don't allow people to drive who haven't been trained to do so! We should not allow mentally disturbed people to own guns - or to live in places where guns are accessible. (See Adam Lanza)

Gun ownership needs to be like a driver's license - a PRIVILEGE, not a "Right". Something a responsible gun owner, just like a responsible driver, never needs to worry about having revoked. No, this won't eliminate gun violence. It will not eliminate gun-handling stupidity. BUT... It may make some gun owner be just that TINY bit more careful. It might keep a firearm out of the hands of the next mass-murderer. It might keep some well-intentioned but not-trained person from blowing up their kid because they don't know how to handle a firearm safely.

Ok, Piston... ZW... Billy... Roger... Go ahead and slam me. This is MY opinion - and I'm sure you'll come back with at least one or more of the talking-points I've already mentioned. Just be sure to give YOUR solution, if you're going to slam mine, k?