THE RIGHT WAY TO “PROTECT OUR KIDS”

HR7910 – Another Biden Mistake

“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.”

The Bill

“To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for an increased age limit on the purchase of certain firearms, prevent gun trafficking, modernize the prohibition on untraceable firearms, encourage the safe storage of firearms, and for other purposes.”

This law covers a great deal of the ground that the many other laws already cover in terms of going after criminals.  The new parts are specifically designed to keep good guys with guns from having what they want and need.  It’s virtue signaling, in that, like all the many previous attempts to prevent mass shootings, it implies that enforcement will happen when, in fact, most laws aren’t being enforced against criminals.  They ARE against you and I, but not the crooks.  Unscrupulous (read leftie) DAs often drop gun charges to avoid discriminating against various groups of people considered “protected,” when these are the same groups perpetrating most of the crimes.

Insanity

Crimes involving guns actually increased after the Assault Weapons Ban (1994) was passed. Fortunately, it had a 10-year sunset clause, so it died, but the impact of this law on violence was the opposite of what was desired.  In fact, this unwelcome fact continues to present itself, such as in Chicago, where their many laws should keep the city safe, but the more laws passed, the more dangerous the city has become.

In Florida, many years back, they decided to loosen gun laws for regular citizens to the extent that if you decided to visit, you could apply for a temporary permit and carry your weapon on vacation.  Shortly thereafter, gun crimes decreased significantly, except those involving gang-on-gang or drug crime actions.  You aren’t going to go after grannie with her walker because grannie could be packing heat.  Most crooks aren’t that stupid.  Foreign visitors, who couldn’t fly here with a gun, were still prone to be targeted, but if you looked like an American, you were a lot safer after that law was passed. 

Which method works best?  More laws that have no impact on criminals?  Or heeding the words of the 2nd Amendment and allowing people the option to protect themselves?  The data is clear; more laws, more crime, especially when those enforcing laws don’t use those laws to lock up gun-using criminals.  There’s a reason we now have 25 states with constitutional carry laws, meaning you don’t have to ask permission to have or carry a gun.  And 17 more are shall-issue, which means unless you are a felon, or have some other legally tested reason to not have a gun, you get to own and carry it.

The Right Approach – Mental Health Treatment & Reporting

Shockingly, at least to me, shortly after every mass shooting, we learn of all these people who knew the person or persons involved had serious issues and may even have threatened to do it.  Post Covid lockdowns, many young people have reacted very negatively to the forced isolation, poor schooling and lack of options. This group frequently struggles with issues as their hormones seem to wage war on them.  Teenage years have always been a struggle, made worse by government fiat.  It isn’t surprising to me to see kids act out.  After all, they have spent years being exposed to violence on TV where often, the perpetrator suffers few consequences.

Worst of all, we have little to offer these kids.  Parents often don’t want to have their child labeled as neurotic and resist getting them help.  Others aren’t aware of the options or can’t afford them.  We need to make sure that kids and their parents have options for short-term or long-term treatment just as we try to provide for their physical health.  Mentally strong kids use their own resourcefulness and reach out when they need advice or counsel.  They don’t shoot up their schools.

Reporting should be a requirement.  Adults (parents, teachers, coaches) know who these unstable kids are, but don’t report them.  Kids read scary social media posts, but have no idea how to let someone know about these.  Focus on the problem that incites the shooting, not the gun itself.  After all, just recently, there was a mass stabbing attack at a hospital.  And anyone can get a knife.

If you don’t name the right problem, you’ll never solve it.  The many years of our history have shown that with increased mental challenges, we get increased shootings.  So, fix the core problem, and you’ll see the numbers drop.  Try to “fix the gun problem” and nothing will change.