REVISITING FOUR GUN LAWS. I am grateful to Pastor Mark English who provided the article “4 Laws That Could Stem the Rising Threat of Mass Shooting”. I published it on Facebook and the response was overwhelming! I think it is worth repeating.
It is important to cite the quality sources to make it more believable. The sources are: Violence Prevention Research Program at the University of California, Davis, Medical Center. The other is the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Center for Gun Policy Research. The laws are:
1. Require Permits to Purchase. Gun buyers must apply in person at local law enforcement agencies for a permit to purchase. This would eliminate the private seller loophole that does not require a background check. Presently, background checks are only required when purchasing from a federally licensed dealer. Too often these checks are not adequately recorded. There would be a greater check on the reasons for the gun purchase. A background check would also be required. After Missouri rescinded its permit to purchase requirement in 2007, firearm homicide rates jumped 25% and law enforcement personnel deaths increased by 52%.
2. Ban individuals convicted of any violent crime from gun purchase. Convicts who were permitted to buy a gun were 30% more likely to be arrested for a gun crime or other violent acts.
3. Make all serious domestic violence offenders surrender firearms. This has resulted in a 19% reduction in risk for intimate partner homicide. 20% of all public mass shootings between 1999 and 2013 were precipitated at least in part by domestic disputes.
4. Temporarily ban active alcohol abusers from firearms. Guns and alcohol are a tragic mix.
I am convinced that adoption of these laws will save hundreds and perhaps thousands of lives. You can read the entire article by going to ENGAGE-ELCA on Facebook for the link.
Peace!
Rev. Ron Letnes