tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471471289744825428.post5399107155195337086..comments2024-03-11T00:31:41.186-07:00Comments on The Oregon Economics Blog: Fred Thompson on Gun PolicyPatrick Emersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17242234148546323374noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471471289744825428.post-31816121482675708192013-01-10T12:23:31.983-08:002013-01-10T12:23:31.983-08:00http://watchdog.org/65752/opponents-set-for-ugly-l...http://watchdog.org/65752/opponents-set-for-ugly-legislative-gunfight-in-the-oregon-capitol/fthompsohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13953605115587300660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3471471289744825428.post-63496419258109511252013-01-08T18:26:45.363-08:002013-01-08T18:26:45.363-08:00I think it bears stating that, to be effective, th...I think it bears stating that, to be effective, the policy must not grandfather any weapon. That means there must be a period during which the registration process is applied to existing weapons. After that, possession of any unregistered weapon should be a felony.<br /><br />I'm of the opinion that assault weapons should be banned along with high capacity magazines. Those weapons have no legitimate purpose other than to kill people. They were, after all, developed for the military.<br /><br />Likewise, and I know this will be contentious, I believe hand guns should be banned. Certainly there is no rationale for carry permits, concealed or not. Balancing any right under the 2nd Amendment is the right of all of us to live a peaceful life without fear of becoming collateral damage when gunfire erupts. <br /><br />Since we began discussing this, I've come to believe there is a larger role for shooting clubs and public shooting ranges where weapons otherwise not permitted, could be stored and used under the supervision of licensed personnel.<br /><br />Important to our discussion of this policy on the PC list has been the need to deal constructively with mental disorders which impair judgement and control. While it isn't directly part of the gun control discussion, there are tangential issues. In the Connecticut shooting, the mother had legally obtained weapons which were then used by her disturbed son. We should consider whether it is appropriate to allow guns to be licensed to households in which mentally disturbed individuals reside. <br /><br />I hope that the efforts we're making to discuss weapons control makes it out of blogs and into a much wider public forum. Thanks for helping.<br /><br />Richard Yarnell<br />BeavercreekRichard Yarnellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05507647991337952177noreply@blogger.com