The PERFECT solution to the gun control problem?

Question

OK, people have different opinions on the 2nd amendment, ranging from everyone should own any gun they want to, to every gun should be banned. But of course, most people sit in the middle.

Now, I believe people should have the right to own guns (handguns as well, although I will never own one), but I still have to respect the amount of gun violence in this country.

So how about this. We let people have any guns they want (except those that are already illegal, such as fully-automatic guns), and as many as they want. In other words, zero gun control.

We only add one stipulation. If you EVER get caught committing ANY crime while using a gun (for instance, robbing a bank with a handgun), you go to jail for life. Period.

And that's it. Sure, gun crime may rise for a year or so, but it will be practically non-existent after that. Crime will still exist, but it will be more like Europe where most crimes are just committed with no guns, resulting in less innocent fatalities.
AND, homeowners can still carry a weapon to protect their homes.

Worried that the prison costs would be too high? Nope. We just let this guy be in charge of the prisons:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Arpaio
And if you think not letting inmates watch cable TV, smoke, look at porn or lift weights is cruel punishment, well, you need to remember they are CRIMINALS!

Will it work?

Answer 1

Sounds good to me.

Answer 2

I'm a fan of a law like that. It's kind of the like the $1 million bail for grand theft auto. It's put so rediculously high so you almost certainly won't be able to pay it. Sure people make mistakes, but people don't make mistakes while pointing guns at somebody or trying to cause bodily harm. These crimes have PURPOSE. I think a law like that would scare most people from thinking about doing it, and then the only need for guns would be for sport, plinking, and self/home defense.

Or, as an alternative, death penalty for any and every murder charge, period. That would solve the prison problem. The only problem with just taking their guns away is that most crimes that are commited with guns, the guns aren't licensed or permitted to the user to begin with. They will still have no problem getting another one.


Hopeful for change: What you stated is not a gun crime. An accidental discharge won't be tried as attempted murder or manslaughter.

Answer 3

You realize of course that when both the Newtown and Portland shooters were engaged by someone that was armed, they both shot themselves. In either case, if a CCW holder had engaged, the outcome at least in Newtown would certainly have been better -- it could not have gotten any worse. In Aurora, Newtown and Portland as well as a host of other mass shootings, the murderers chose an area where they had high confidence there would be no armed resistance as these were gun free zones. You have to take each situation on its own to determine how they could have been stopped. Newtown: LOCK AND BLOCK the doors and turn out the lights in each of the classrooms AND office as soon as gunfire is heard. A security door with a window near the handle is not a security door. An unarmed principal would have done more on the PA system to alert everyone rather than try to stop a shooter armed with an AR-15 with his bare hands. Portland: Do not prevent CCW permit holders from carrying inside the mall or advertise that you are doing so. Aurora: Do not prevent CCW permit holders from carrying inside the theater or advertise that you are doing so.

Answer 4

I don't think that this would help at all. Those who commit the crimes with guns don't have them registered, and have bought them illegally anyway . . . they don't get caught, and if they do, the penalty is almost a joke. Prisoners sit on death rows for years and years . . . tying up or appellate courts, and costing us millions in tax dollars. I am sure that law abiding citizens like myself are more than willing to go through the red tape of owning a gun, but are too afraid of getting put away or sued for shooting someone who tried breaking into my house . . . So much needs to change before this concept is even taken up for consideration.

Answer 5

Consider that accidentally discharging a firearm in your own home is probably a crime - disturbing the peace or something.

Harsh jail sentences don't do much to deter crimes, but they do eventualy put habitual criminals behind bars, the problem is that it's hard to catch people.


Another option, perhaps too Orwellian for you, would be to allow people to buy any sort of gun they wanted, but, when you did buy the gun, you register the gun, your fingerprints, and the 'ballistic fingerprints' of the gun. If the gun is ever used in a crime, you're held responsible (maybe in a criminal sense, if it can be proved you committed the crime, otherwise civil liability for allowing your gun to fall into the wrong hands or otherwise be misused).

Answer 6

Gun control is ignorant and doesn't even address the real problem. It's just more feel good legislation from the left...and with that said. I don't agree with life imprisonment, but i do agree the penalties need to be more severe.
In my opinion if we're going to end the violence thats committed predominately in the inner cities. When need a truly effective war on gangs and harsh punishments for gang activity.

Answer 7

How would you stop your crazy neighbor from running down the street naked plugging bullet holes in all the garages, or that wacko skin head from rounding up a neighborhood - -

There would have to be a law enforcement "device" or person assigned to every one of us old enough to pull a trigger. I think people who normally were mellow would get paranoid, and seasoned criminals would go ape. People would start threatening each other - the bank robber would just threaten everyone and get away. "If you turn me in, you die".

The ONLY way it could work, is but OUTLAWING personal possession of ANY bullet making materials and make BULLETS outrageously expensive and SERIOUSLY difficult to get. Instead of life in prison, SERIOUS CRIMES would HAVE to earn the DEATH PENALTY (by a all volunteer firing squad - only one gun loaded, no one knows which gun) with NO pardon or parole, and the sentence would have to be carried out within a year or less. Prisons need to be prisons, not health clubs or hotels - they need to be WITHOUT the luxuries of society because they VIOLATED society rules. It is FACT that many "cons" get released and find out prison was BETTER and easier than being on the outside!! I'm tired of my tax dollars going to feed and entertain seasoned hard criminals who clearly can't function in society. I would rather feed wild animals.

Criminals don't BUY guns legally, they STEAL them - if they can't get the ammo, they will think twice about stealing the gun. IF the criminal does get ammo and shoots someone, he will DIE - I think that would straighten things out. Control the AMMO and stiffen the PUNISHMENT.

Answer 8

"We only add one stipulation. If you EVER get caught committing ANY crime while using a gun (for instance, robbing a bank with a handgun), you go to jail for life. Period"

That is insane. You are off your nut. Prison costs will go sky high.

How about if you ever get caught in a gun crime you lose the right to own a gun ever again. As well as the crime penalties.

Answer 9

Jail costs WOULD skyrocket. How about this, use a gun in a crime and you get shot dead by everyone else....

BTW Bella Donna.. Felons, and you would be if you used a firearm in a crime, are already banned from owning firearms. Doesn't stop them though....

Hopeful....Obviously they were not "Pro-gun", they were pro-crime. You are talking about a family of felons. You expect them to be responsible in gun safety???!!! Did the story say if the guns were LEGALLY owned??? Puleeeze!!

Answer 10

Florida has the one chance rule. If you are caught doing a robbery with a gun or any weapon (knife) you get to spend the next 10 years as a guest of the Florida correctional facility. I know this because one of my friends had this happen to her son.

Answer 11

Not a bad plan, but instead of locking them up for life after the first offense they should be given one more chance(except for murderers). After they do their time behind bars they should be put on permanent probation. If they have just one slip-up, no matter how minor it is, they go back to prison for life.