[Leica] OT Gun Violence

[richard at richardmanphoto.com (Richard Man)]

I hate to be political on this list, but whatever happens, something needs
to happen. Whether it's the things you mentioned, or less bullets, or more
drastic changes, I do not know. Personally I would remove all gun, but I
know "it ain't going to happen."

In any case, something needs to happen.


On Fri, Dec 14, 2012 at 8:43 PM, Mark Kronquist <mak at teleport.com> wrote:

> Gun violence. Time for some sensible legislation
>
> Many of you know my day job, some don't. I am "in the industry" as a Vice
> President for the largest manufacturer of firearms in the region. Our
> products are far more tightly controlled and not likely to be involved in
> one of these incidents.
>
> First, my heart goes out to the victims of these senseless tragedies.
>
> I realize that the AR-15 platform used in Oregon was stolen and the
> Bushmaster used in CT was illegal in CT. Not sure about CT handgun laws and
> whether the Glock and Sig P226 were CT legal or not. Nor do I know if the
> weapons were stolen, purchased legally before the 1994 ban or whatnot.
> These are minor issues. Criminals will break the law.
>
> We cannot be Pollyanna's and magically make guns or the Second Amendment
> disappear. Face it guns are a part of our society...like it or not. Will
> these few ideas end gun crime? No. If a criminal or an mentally ill person
> is going to use a gun to commit a crime, they will find a gun...just maybe
> these ideas will make it a bit harder and discourage the opportunist.
>
> 1. What we can do is get rid of the crazy patchwork of gun laws that ban a
> gun in one county or city or state or the purchase of that gun...for
> example,
> the Gifford's shooter in Arizona could not have legally purchased the gun
> used int he killings in say, a far left, liberal state called
> oh...Idaho...or at least three dozen other states. Why can a mentally ill
> (sorry to offend those who don't like labels but call it otheradvantaged,
> challenged or whatever the shooter was not of right mind) purchase a hand
> gun in Arizona and not in Idaho? Why not have ONE NATIONAL STANDARD FOR
> RIFLES? HANDGUNS? CONCEALED CARRY? States rights folks will be up in arms
> but, I think the 2nd Amendment makes this a Federal issue, not a state
> one...we did it at the FEDERAL LEVEL with the 1934 act banning machine guns
> and the 1968 act banning Saturday Night Specials.
>
> 2. I just got home from a long day and opened a beer. We pay a social
> welfare tax on beer. We pay a social welfare tax on cigarettes. We pay a
> social welfare tax on lottery tickets. On chewing tobacco on candy in some
> places. Right now any 18 year old can walk into any BiMart, Fred Meyer,
> K-Mart, WalMart or wherever and lay down 15-16 bucks for 500 rounds of .22
> ammo. Yes I know that .22 is not often used in mass murders and that there
> is a 15% excise tax on new ammo but this tax goes to the general fund, not
> to offsetting the toll caused by gun violence in our society. So I grant
> those arguments and ask is a penny or a nickel a round for rifle ammo going
> to hurt hunters that badly? Heck double it and put the other half to
> hunting habitat restoration through Rocky Mountain Elk or Ducks Unlimited.
>
> 3. Scary guns and pretty guns are just as deadly in the wrong hands. My
> French 49-56 MAS Battle Rifle holds only 10 rounds per clip and has a
> beautiful, wood stock and lacks a pistol grip, muzzle compensator or other
> cosmetics that were banned in the US from 1994-2004. Yet in the wrong hands
> it is far more deadly than a .223/5.56 (the most common M-16 AR-15 platform
> round)...and the MAS makes it easy as easy to change a magazine in about 2
> seconds...unclip, drop, clip, rerack shoot. Capacity limits are do-good
> fiction. 10 rounds (the 1994-2004 maximum) are just as deadly as 30 and
> changing any mag takes just a second or two...in a mall or school filled
> with innocents it's not going to matter.
>
> 4. Driver's license. Motorcycle License. Food Server's Food Handling
> Permit, Alcohol Server's License. On and on and on. Gun. Walk in to a gun
> shop slap down ten bucks for a basic background check and we give you the
> keys to an Indy Car...Yes a Libertarians' nightmare. Why not REQUIRE a
> national standard handgun safety class to buy a handgun (pass the class
> once, you receive a license as counterfeit proof as currency (will a
> criminal copy it? Sure. Will a 15 year old gang banger (again sorry to
> offend) No.) Why not a hunting safety class for a rifle purchase and a
> national class and standard for concealed carry as well...and, yes, please
> NRA, you guys are great at gun safety, please teach and profit from the
> classes.
>
> My 2 cents.
>
> I am sure many disagree. Disagree with dignity and finesse. We all have
> opinions...please share yours.
>
> Thank you
>
> Mark
>
>
>
>
>
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>



-- 
// richard <http://www.richardmanphoto.com>