NO FEAR GUN LAWS are gun laws that save lives while respecting the right of gun ownership for responsible owners. The NRA and Gun Owners of America would have us believe ALL gun laws are a slippery slope towards the government taking our guns. Nothing is further from the truth. Here are some NO FEAR GUN LAWS truths. (NOTE: The following studies are noted in www.protectmn.org)
A 2013 study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reveals that states with the most gun laws have the lowest rates of homicide and suicide by gun violence. NOTE: Guns were not taken away from responsible people.
A 2013 study by Boston’s Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health, found that states with the most laws regulating guns had a mortality rate 42% lower than those states with the fewest laws. Laws requiring universal background checks and permit to purchase for licensed and private sales were most associated with decreasing rates of gun-related homicides and suicides. NOTE: Responsible people can purchase guns.
A 2018 study published in the JAMA (hardly a liberal screed), found that strong state firearm policies were associated with lower suicide and homicide rates. NOTE: Responsible people can purchase guns.
Responsible gun owners support the above mentioned studies. 80% support universal background checks. 86% support prohibiting anyone convicted of stalking or domestic abuse from buying a gun. 85% support prohibiting those on the Terrorist Watch List or No-Fly lists from purchasing a gun. 88% support a permit to carry law to carry a concealed handgun in a public place.
Two responsible laws before the Minnesota Senate are: UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS for all purchases from licensed and private sellers, and a RED FLAG LAW which would allow family members to appeal to a judge to have a weapon or weapons temporarily removed from a person who is going through a difficult personal time in their lives. The person would have the right of appeal. The gun or guns would be returned after the person has worked through that challenging time.
Responsible and respectful laws save lives. We are our brothers and sisters keepers. Let us work together to pass NO FEAR GUN LAWS.
Peace!
Rev. Dr. Ron Letnes