Should guns be outlawed in America?

[mrstickball]

scottie said:
I'm not convinced a 100% ban on civilian ownership is needed. Many countries, similar to the US, have tightly regulated gun ownership, and have a tiny fraction of the gun deaths that the USA does.

For example, guns owned, and kept in a secure locker at a registered gun club are not dangerous.

I think the changes needed are.

Failing to take sufficient steps to ensure that children cannot access your gun, and its ammunition, should legally be classed as murder.

For the most part, it already is in the US. If a gun is not properly secured and a child uses it for negligent purposes, the parents are usually charged with the crime.

Carrying both a gun and ammunition that will work for that gun in public should legally be classed as attempted murder. The government needs to promote maces and tasers as personal protection (and also to explain that tasers are still lethal weapons, and should only be used in defence of life)

Doesn't work as well as you believe they do. People build up aversions to mace and tasers. Firearms generally are the supreme equalizer. Its why you see crime go down in states where CCW permits are issued vs. states with just tasers/mace.

Failure to report the theft of a gun within a reasonable amount of time will lead to you being considered accessory to any crimes committed with it.

I assume this must also go for cars as well, correct?

The government needs to undertake an education campaign explaining, in very simple terms, that a weapon kept in the home is more likely to kill your family members than it is to save them.

Generally, they already do this via hunting licenses.

Any criminal record more serious than minor traffic/parking violations or marijuana possession will lead to you be unable to own firearms.
and then add a complete ban on fully automatic weapons - they have no purpose for self defence or hunting.

...Why? You are adding undue restrictions on owning something. If I made the same statement that you shouldn't be able to own a car if you've had more than a minor violation, would it be alright? Don't get me wrong, in the US, a felony pretty much bars you from firearm ownership. As for full autos, they are so controlled in the US, they might as well be banned. A class-3 license costs a LOT of money, and you more or less have to have a dealership license to own one.