Comments on: Yet Another Attack on Gun Owners http://blog.packingheat.com/2007/03/15/yet-another-attack-on-gun-owners/ The PackingHeat.com blog...fear the writing Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:01:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Packingheat http://blog.packingheat.com/2007/03/15/yet-another-attack-on-gun-owners/#comment-10564 Packingheat Sat, 17 Mar 2007 00:57:59 +0000 http://blog.packingheat.com/2007/03/15/yet-another-attack-on-gun-owners/#comment-10564 Andrea: your idea sounds good on the surface but won't, in my opinion, work. Perhaps its my cynicism, but judging by how state and federal governments manage their money, I'd be hard pressed to believe that any worthy cause would receive more than a token amount (if anything) from fines against gun owners. Just look at how states have used money from drug raids, settlements against corporations or from federal subsidies and tell me you believe that any charitable/research organization stands a chance of getting their share? More importantly, I don't agree with your idea of further punishing victims of crime. I understand the intention of your suggestion and certainly agree that responsible gun owners must maintain control of their firearms at all times, however people who have their firearms stolen are victims of crime just the same as someone who has their cash or jewels stolen. Fining victims of theft for being victims hardly seems right. I know that you want people to lock up their weapons in such a way that it wouldn't be possible for "someone to get a hold of" them, but any thief who truly wants something will eventually get a hold of the item. Massachusetts already has laws regarding how firearms and ammunition must be stored. I have a safe for my handguns, lock up my ammunition separately and keep my rifles disabled by the use of state-approved locks. Any Massachusetts gun owner who doesn't want to go to jail and pay massive fines (none of which any charitable organization sees) follows similar procedures for any weapon not under their direct control. But despite this, people still have their guns stolen in Massachusetts. Some would argue that this proves that gun locks and other storage requirements are useless - after all, criminals are tenacious. I'm not 100% sure I agree with that sentiment, but the argument is made by some. Also, it's not true that all guns used in the commission of crimes were legally owned at one time. Just like any item, there are many places from manufacture, transport to retail where they are stolen well before they are ever legally purchased. I personally would be devastated if my firearms were stolen and used to commit crime. I do everything I can to prevent that. I think you'll find that the majority of gun owners feel and act the same way. If fines are to be levied, they should be levied against the criminals who commit the illegal acts. Even more importantly, we should stop focusing on the loud and obvious things and start focusing on finding ways to prevent crime or, even better, prevent people from becoming criminals. It's a higher and harder goal to achieve, but are the more worthwhile for the effort. Thanks for commenting, and my best wishes to you and your son. Andrea: your idea sounds good on the surface but won’t, in my opinion, work. Perhaps its my cynicism, but judging by how state and federal governments manage their money, I’d be hard pressed to believe that any worthy cause would receive more than a token amount
(if anything) from fines against gun owners. Just look at how states have used money from drug raids, settlements against corporations or from federal subsidies and tell me you believe that any charitable/research organization stands a chance of getting their share?

More importantly, I don’t agree with your idea of further punishing victims of crime. I understand the intention of your suggestion and certainly agree that responsible gun owners must maintain control of their firearms at all times, however people who have their firearms stolen are victims of crime just the same as someone who has their cash or jewels stolen. Fining victims of theft for being victims hardly seems right.

I know that you want people to lock up their weapons in such a way that it wouldn’t be possible for “someone to get a hold of” them, but any thief who truly wants something will eventually get a hold of the item. Massachusetts already has laws regarding how firearms and ammunition must be stored. I have a safe for my handguns, lock up my ammunition separately and keep my rifles disabled by the use of state-approved locks. Any Massachusetts gun owner who doesn’t want to go to jail and pay massive fines (none of which any charitable organization sees) follows similar procedures for any weapon not under their direct control. But despite this, people still have their guns stolen in Massachusetts. Some would argue that this proves that gun locks and other storage requirements are useless - after all, criminals are tenacious. I’m not 100% sure I agree with that sentiment, but the argument is made by some.

Also, it’s not true that all guns used in the commission of crimes were legally owned at one time. Just like any item, there are many places from manufacture, transport to retail where they are stolen well before they are ever legally purchased.

I personally would be devastated if my firearms were stolen and used to commit crime. I do everything I can to prevent that. I think you’ll find that the majority of gun owners feel and act the same way. If fines are to be levied, they should be levied against the criminals who commit the illegal acts. Even more importantly, we should stop focusing on the loud and obvious things and start focusing on finding ways to prevent crime or, even better, prevent people from becoming criminals. It’s a higher and harder goal to achieve, but are the more worthwhile for the effort.

Thanks for commenting, and my best wishes to you and your son.

]]> By: Andrea M http://blog.packingheat.com/2007/03/15/yet-another-attack-on-gun-owners/#comment-10469 Andrea M Thu, 15 Mar 2007 21:06:57 +0000 http://blog.packingheat.com/2007/03/15/yet-another-attack-on-gun-owners/#comment-10469 My son was also shot and robbed and he is now paralized. If you like to own some guns that is your business. But do keep on thing in mind, those guns that are being used in the commision of a crime were all owned at one time by someone who has legally purchased them and were stolen most likely out of their homes. So..my solution would be that those gun owners who store their weapons in a manner that it is possible for someone to get a hold of it, should pay a hefty fine, and that money should go to victims of gun violence and research. What do you think of that idea? My son was also shot and robbed and he is now paralized. If you like to own some guns that is your business. But do keep on thing in mind, those guns that are being used in the commision of a crime were all owned at one time by someone who has legally purchased them and were stolen most likely out of their homes. So..my solution would be that those gun owners who store their weapons in a manner that it is possible for someone to get a hold of it, should pay a hefty fine, and that money should go to victims of gun violence and research. What do you think of that idea?

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