The talk about how there is no compromise in the gun control debate is in error. We achieved our current gun control laws through compromise.

There was a number compromises on what kind of checks a person must pass before they can obtain what kind of guns and what kind of tax a person must pay to transfer those guns into their possession. In the beginning guns were pretty much unregulated and anyone could order a gun thru the mail or walk into a shop and buy a gun unless the shop owner did not think you should have a gun.

Then because law enforcement came to fear gangsters with machine guns, Federal Law required background checks and a prohibitive tax on the purchase of machine guns. Beginning with prohibition and continuing up until the end of the 20th century, gun advocates compromised with gun control advocates leading to increasing restrictions on guns and ammunition. Near the end of the 20th century gun advocates dug in their heals believing that common sense gun controls had been achieved and any further restrictions were counter productive. The “Assault Weapons” ban was allowed to sunset.

The arguments pro and con about each current new gun control proposal are voluminous. I don’t intend to get draw into a item by item discussion. Both sides have compromised in the past and aren’t ready to compromise currently.

To think that:

Gun owners are members of an insular, uncompromising social club and they are in denial over who they are letting in, namely white supremacists, domestic terrorists, and those suffering from mental illnesses.

Is also wrong headed. I was at the range a couple weeks ago, many of the shooters were Black and Latino. Some were Vietnamese. I gave one Asian guy a few SKS clips (not detachable box magazines) when he asked where he could get some. Most SKS’s do not have a detachable magazine and are loaded using stripper clips.

Gun owners are far from insular, they are more likely evangelical, they invite new members all the time. The drag people to the range and teach them the ropes let them shoot the most fun guns. The first thing every gun owner teaches is basic gun safety. Every gun is treated like it is loaded and never pointed at anything you would not want to see shot. Keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to fire. There is no such thing as a gun accident only negligence.

Regarding mental illness, I have a daughter with a mental illness. During the years that she lived in my home, I locked up my guns and changed hobbies. The guns stayed locked up and out of sight for almost a decade.

I would never encourage a person whom I though was not of sound judgement to own guns. That goes way beyond mental illness. Someone who shoots a road side traffic sign should loose his gun owning rights. If your judgement and discretion are that compromised, no guns for you.

I am also under no illusion as to the purpose of a gun: to end life as quickly and efficiently as possible.

This shows a lack of either understanding or some sort of oversimplification. I own many guns who’s purpose is to make holes in paper, ring steel or smash clay targets. They would not be quick or efficient at ending lives.

I own guns that for which you can’t even buy ammo.

TEK