Article on gun control -- focus on repeat criminals, not guns

[CALawyer]

Curious what you all think about the idea in this article.

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/what_congress_should_do_about_gun_control_20130114/

In a nutshell, minor criminals often grow up to be major criminals. So focus gun restrictions on minor criminals in the hope that it will cut down on future violence.

This is one way to avoid a new "mental health" gun law. Basically by focusing on criminal convictions, there is no need to evaluate mental health via vague labels.

[tcrpe]

Criminal and psycho control in lieu of gun control? I'm all for it.

It's a win-win for everyone.

Well, except the psychos and criminals.

Curious what you all think about the idea in this article.

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/what_congress_should_do_about_gun_control_20130114/

In a nutshell, minor criminals often grow up to be major criminals. So focus gun restrictions on minor criminals in the hope that it will cut down on future violence.

[BanjoGunner]

I believe this to be a very rational and workable proposal, one much more likely to have an impact on violence than any of the firearms specific bans/restrictions being proposed right now; I hope our leaders will read it.

The focus on previous violent behavior is key. I once read a study that concluded the only real predictor of violent behavior was previous violent behavior, usually starting with the abuse of animals in childhood. Care will have to be exercised however in just how violent misdemeanors are defined in order to avoid overly inclusive definitions. Especially important too is the sunset clause whereby if you remain clean for 10-15 years you can regain your firearm rights.

[biker777]

[stix213]

This proposal somewhat mirrors what we already have in California, where some misdemeanors give a temporary prohibition.

Personally I'm of the opinion that only felony crimes should be prohibiting. If you think a violent misdemeanor should prohibit you from gun ownership, I say just change that misdemeanor's penalty into a felony so the true punishment for the crime is obvious to all before committing it.

As it is right now with this patchwork of prohibiting misdemeanors, you don't even necessarily know a firearms prohibition is part of the punishment until you get out of jail and straighten your life out, so there is little to no deterence effect, and only stops purchases by the now law abiding (since if they remain law breaking they will just steal the gun rather than even try to purchase it in the first place).