The NRA posed lots of solutions. Many of them I agree with. A police officer in every school would be great. But who will pay for it? In PWC, there are over 90 schools. Let’s say one officer, when all was said and done, with a car, equipment, salary, benefits, and pension would cost in the neighborhood of $100,000. That’s no small chunk of change. Is the NRA going to help with the cost? Didn’t think so. I think I am low balling that figure anyway. It sounds like we are taling $10 million.
The NRA suggested we get tougher on the mentally ill. I am all in favor of that also. What I haven’t heard is how the NRA is going to change. Are they going to decide that the man on the street doesn’t need military type weapons? How many rounds do we need to fire a minute? The NRA assumed no responsibility in any of this and I have a problem with that.
We tax cigarettes, booze, gambling and use some of those funds to fixing the problems those things cause. Perhaps we need to start taxing guns sales and ammunition sales to apply towards fixing some of the problems that America’s gun pastime is producing.
I can already hear the howling. Let’s put it another way, I don’t want to buy guns and ammo. Why should I pay for someone else’s hobby that leaves a very expensive foot print? As long as 2A rights involve high powered weapons that can inflict untold damage on those caught in the crossfire, those who insist on no restrictions can just help pay for it.
Slave labor? Really?
To allow teachers to defend themselves? Make the teachers pack heat? When have I advocated that?
I don’t have a problem with a tax that pays for security. However, the gun banners continually advance the idea of onerous taxes to make gun ownership impossible. And if you’re going to tax something…across the board is the way to go.
And no…its not a hobby.
Its not a job. Things are either vocational or avocational.
hobby: an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation.
What would YOU call it?
Yea, arming teachers is just another job.
Some people consider it a lifestyle. Just their way of going about life. Guns are an article of clothing. Having a fire extinguisher for fires is not a hobby.
If allowing teachers to arm themselves, at their own desire, is a job, then every CCW person has a job carrying a gun.
CS offers me a segue back to my Modest Proposal that I have made over several years, but which is not directly related to the Sandy Hook issue: I would be most pleased if this national discussion about guns would take a very hard look at why we permit concealed carry, or at least under what circumstances it should be permitted (circumstances that I would think would be limited to undercover police or law enforcement officers. If any civilian concealed carry is permitted, it should be subject to much more rigorous certification requirements than is the case today). In a jurisdiction like Virginia, we can carry open without a permit. Why do we need concealed carry? If, as many contend, having a generally armed population has a deterrent effect on crime, I would think that mandatory open carry would magnify that deterrent effect.
Can anyone here offer a compelling justification for why we would permit civilians to carry concealed? I will be most interested in the responses. A coherent one might change my mind on this.
Can you give us a compelling argument as to why open carry somehow makes you personally safer than concealed?
I can tell you one common reason why many people have concealed carry permits. If your jacket falls over your holster while open carrying, and you don’t have a concealed permit, you’re in some legal trouble. I know many people who do it just to be on the safe side legally, not because at any moment they might want to walk into Pizza Hut and shoot up your family before you have time to call 911.
sure, although I think it’s obvious – I can just leave (and take my kiddies with me) if I think there are too many weapons at a site or if I don’t like the cut of the jib of the people who are carrying them. I know several people with concealed carry permits with whom I would not want to be in a room when they are armed. It’s entirely too easy to get a permit. My proposal puts no obligation or burden on them, it just allows me enough information to make an informed judgement as to whether to stay. If the state is going to allow guns all over the place, just leave the citizens a chance to stand aside.
If we had a universal open carry requirement, I’m sure folks would buy gear that kept the weapon plainly in view at all times. By the way, I think law enforcement would be much more comfortable knowing immediately where the weapons are, also.
@Scout
Many gunnies would support that idea…universal ownership and open carry.
To be clear (and to make amends for sloppy usage) my notion is that persons who carry weapons be required to carry open, not that everyone in the population be required to carry weapons.