We don't need Gun Control

 It really shouldn't be about gun control.  

I am a firm Constitutionalist and so I support the 2nd Amendment fully. I support the state's right to allow conceal carry if that is what the constituency desires. What I don't understand is why we regulate other things more closely.

Cars kill approximately 43,000 people a year

Poisonings in the home kill 51,000 people a year

Food Poisoning 10,000 per year

We regulate these extensively and have vast and numerous safeguards because we believe them important.

Gun deaths approach 45,000 per year and yet we do little by State or Federal law to really control who has them and their eligibility to use them.

To drive a car requires:

Training

> Passing an initial test

> Requalification for the license to drive at a state designated interval which includes:

       - Eye/vision exam

> If a car title is passed (via sale) it must go through the state.

> The qualifications vary by vehicle type (for obvious reasons)

> Food is (by state agreement) covered by the FDA and must pass and maintain specific guidelines from     packaging to lot control.

We put more regulation and safety on Tide Pods and a Tylenol bottle than we do on the purchase of a gun.

I fully support the 2nd Amendment and right to bear arms. I really do! And if the states allow people to have assault guns and conceal carry because that is what the voters in that state want - then fine.

But why not:

> Eliminate straw gun sales

> That each gun is registered with its owner and if sold the 'title' is monitored.

> That a test is required to get a license to carry a gun (that I hope includes an eye exam at minimum) and includes instruction on how to clean a gun, lock and safely keep a firearm away from children, the proper state laws to carry a firearm and ensure the person is qualified for its use.

> That this qualification be based upon the type of gun(s) owned. There are different tests and criteria for motorcycle, passenger vehicle and semi-trucks... why not have similar testing and training for firearms of different types?

And why not have a federal data base for State-to-State sales (just like cars). The State's laws will regulate use BUT at least they would know of the gun's owner and qualifications via the state that gun 'resides'

There are 287,000,000 registered cars in the United States. And as I mentioned previously, states require registration and testing etc. and with that there are still approximately 43 thousand deaths a year. How much worse would it be if we let people drive cars as they wield guns?

There are an estimated 393,000,000 (393 million) guns in civilian hands in the US. An average of 5 guns per gun owner.

I know that better regulation and registration will not end gun deaths - no more than it does deaths by car. But if it brings it down even a small percentage - even if it saves the death of one child (and likely more) than why not? We don't need to ban guns. But to help ensure the qualifications of the individual why not train and test?