With the recent events in AZ it got me thinking about gun control fanatics and the process of obtaining a gun. I realize it varies from state to state. It is obvious that the kid was a nutcase and should not have been anywhere near a gun.

There should be more background checks. This kid was turned down by the US Military and was expelled from college pending a pysch exam. It baffles me how he was allowed to buy a gun.

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What, you mean actually institute a Well Regulated Militia like the Constitution says? According to the Right, the Constitution is un-Constitutional!

Owning a gun should require the same things as owning a car. Obtaining a license, which would include passing a typical psychological exam as is used when enlisting in the Armed Forces, passing a background check for felonies and proving one could competently operate a firearm, followed by the registration of the firearm after proving one has obtained insurance coverage in case of it's accidental use. I am not against owning guns, I am against lunatics, felons and terrorists owning guns. The Constitution says gun owners comprise a Well-regulated Militia. Well, they don't.

I assume that the criterion is that you don't have a criminal record. I'm not sure it matters, how hard is it to buy/steal an illegal gun?

He may not have even bought it from a licensed dealer - did some horsetrading with an acquaintance, borrowed from a friend or relative - he may even have had the gun in his possession long before he started going off the deep end.

No system of background checks is ever going to be perfect - and not arguing that the present system couldn't stand a lot of improvement - and there are always going to be a few individuals that fall thru the cracks.

IMHO, anyone wanting to purchase an easily concealed firearm should have to go thru a "gun safety" course with the local law enforcement - such that the authorities get the chance to get a long hard look at their background, and also see the individual in person and get a read on their state of mind.

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JR- I agree with you 100%. As long as my PA concealed carry permit would be valid in any other state, Just like Drivers Licenses right?

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I'm all for self protection as well, even from a suppressive government.

The 2nd amendment doesn't mention nut cases.

This is very sad set of circumstances. Also sad and unalterable is the fact human beings do the background checks, less than perfect human beings.

My thoughts go out to all the victims.

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He purchased the gun this past November from a licensed gun dealer.

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'72 Triumph T100R

State concealed carry laws are on their way to being ruled un-Constitutional, I wouldn't worry about it. Carrying guns is a right granted under the Bill of Rights, and states should have absolutely nothing to do with regulating their use, it should all be federal.

A bunch of states now fall under or participate in Reciprocity Agreements.

http://www.usacarry.com/concealed_carry_permit_reciprocity_maps.html

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'08 Chevy Tahoe
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'86 Kawasaki KX 250
'88 Kawasaki KDX200
'71 Hodaka Ace 100
'72 Triumph T100R

Actually, none of the above are required to own a car. There's not even a minimum age to own a car. This is a fundamentally flawed arguement. However, I do agree with you that lunatics should not possess guns or cars for that matter.

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Hair splitter, I will correct it to say, drive a car. Perhaps you should own a gun without bullets.

And due to the Chicago Decision, they will all eventually be found un-Constitutional. A state has no right to regulate anything granted to a citizen in the Bill of Rights, reiterated in the 14th Amendment:

All state laws regarding gun ownership have essentially been found un-Constitutional:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonald_v._Chicago

something that those on the Right have been claiming to be a great victory, but as yet they have not understood the implications of it.

The SCOTUS just gave the Federal Gov't regulatory authority over the National Militia. If the Democrats ever attain a veto-proof majority, gun owners will rue the day.

Figured that since you were mincing the wording of the 2nd amendment, I’d suggest you fortify your car vs. gun argument.

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2016 Ford Fusion 24,900

I see no reason why a weapon should not have to be registered and presented by the owner once a year for inspection and proof that it is still in ones possession (just like a car). If you sell the weapon, you must transfer ownership to that individual (just like a car). If you loose a weapon or it gets stolen then you report it as such to local authorities (just like a car). I think that if gun ownership could be traced and you could not just sell guns behind closed doors things might improve a bit.

I would also like to see requirements for storing weapons as well. That would deal with the "my gun was stolen' issue. 2nd says that you can own a gun, not that it cannot be regulated.

May be while the republicans are 'clarifying' the 14th they can do it for the rest of the COTUS.

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I am mincing no words, I am giving it to you utterly literal. Everyone has the right to possess a firearm. Every firearm owner is a potential soldier in the Militia. The government has a duty to see that it is well-regulated - and it says WHY in black and white: because this Militia is necessary to the security of The State. We do not need lunatics, felons and traitors in the National Militia, and so Congress can provide that this does not occur or is mitigated as much as possible. Since a lunatic, felon or traitor cannot conform to the regulations of the Militia, he forfeits his right to own a gun, as much as a felon forfeits his voting rights.