I never tried to get a gun licence in USA. But after questions like "Should Teachers carry guns?" I wonder how hard it is for someone to get a gun? How does it compare to a car licence for example?
I hear some US states have 15 year olds driving. The death toll on roads shows cars are dangerous. At least their purpose is mainly for transport. They had a lot of hours practice and studying road rules to get their licence. (is that right?)
How do gun licences compare to that? Guns are designed to injure or worse. How old and what training / testing is needed to get a gun? What responsibility has to be done to keep a gun?
What percentage of US citizens have guns in your opinion?
2006-10-05 14:26:19 · 7 answers · asked by wizebloke 7 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Its much easier to get a permit for a gun than a car.
40% of homes have a gun.
32% of ADULTS own a gun.
It all varies by State, mine is Michigan.
go to http://www.packing.org for gun laws in your state.
For any gun that isn't fully automatic or a pistol (barrel under 18") the background check takes about 20 seconds after about 1 minute of filling out a form (name address weight height etc...)
The clerk just makes a telephone call.
Then they hand you the gun and your change.
Unlike a drivers license that requires so many hours on the road, so many hours of training, vision test, much more paperwork, a paper test and standing in line at the DMV for 45 minutes, getting your picture taken etc... You will have DAYS tied up in getting a DL, compared to about 2 minutes for a gun.
Pistol permit varies by State, but generally requires a trip to your local police department, fill out a form for a purchase permit, take a short gun safety test (keep finger off trigger, don't aim at dogs, always treat it as loaded etc...) Then you may have a waiting period (my state is 24 hours) the next day you return to the station, pick up your permit, go buy a gun, bring it back to the police station to be "safety checked" but really its just a gun registration. And you're done.
If you have a CCW you just show them your license, fill out a short form (name address etc..) they call it in, and hand you the gun and your change. No waiting period!
2006-10-06 05:55:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Its true, they'll give just about anybody a licence to drive a car. (yes, it is 15 for a learner's permit in some states!) And anyone can buy a gun if they are old enough (18 for rifles and shotguns, 21 for handguns), and pass a criminal background check. But if a teacher wanted to carry a gun (to school), they would have to take a concealed weapons class and get a permit to carry a concealed hand gun.
2006-10-05 14:34:08 · answer #2 · answered by alanna801 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A person must go through much more red tape to purchase a firearm, than to drive a car. Guns are not necessarily "designed to injure or worse", although that is a popular misconception. Many firearms are designed for competition, plinking (informal shooting), and other non injury causing reasons. The method of obtaining a firearm is different in every state. A person must be 18 to purchase a long gun (rifle or shotgun) and 21 for handgun. A complete background check is done, and some paperwork must be filled out. In some states, fingerprints, and classes are mandatory.
2006-10-06 11:57:30 · answer #3 · answered by Gudelos 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First off you don't always need a license to get a gun, some states require you to have a permit to buy handguns and a few for any firearm. Secondly these two can't be compared in ease of receiving it. For a driver's license any 16 year old can apply, but for a gun permit ONLY 21 year olds who have no mental illnesses, felony convictions, must have a good reason for getting a gun and have to have a background check. Driver's licenses are received by taking a test and is not based on your personal history. If you pass a drive test you can expect to receive your license, but when applying for a gun permit you can be denied for what ever reason they want. Either one will be easier for some and harder for others. If someone is horrible at driving, but has a clean history chances are they will get a gun permit much easier than a Drivers license. And someone with a felony conviction but is a perfect driver will have the opposite.
And firearms are not made to kill, even in war the object is not always to kill. I mean if you are in battle and shoot and kill someone that is one less person in the battle. But if you wound him, the it will take him, at least two others to carry him and plenty of supplies and money out of the battle as well. But for civilians like me, firearms are used for sport. I shoot in local, state, and sometimes national competitions. The rifles I use for these are single shot, bolt action rifles that would be incredibly unpractical for any criminal purpose. Even with a pistol or semi-auto rifle I still wouldn't kill anyone except if my life was in danger. Only criminals use gun to kill, and shooters only use guns for sport.
2006-10-06 12:10:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A 15 year old trained to use a gun is much less dangerous than a 15 year old trained to use a car.
2006-10-05 14:29:44 · answer #5 · answered by Colorado 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
the system can be warped. you can get a 50 caliber rifle when 18 but have to be 21 to carry a pistol the gun in a teachers case would be a pistol i think they should train teachers to use weapons and have a emergency weapon closet hidden under lock and key in a office closet
2006-10-05 14:42:45 · answer #6 · answered by shane r 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is easier to get a car license. Just apply for one and get it. Even felons can drive a car.To by a gun you have to have an FBI check done. Felons can't buy guns.
2006-10-07 07:48:59 · answer #7 · answered by » mickdotcom « 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋