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Rob Freda

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Solving gun violence in the US in today's insane political climate requires a solution that makes it painless for everyone.

First that this idea even needs to be broached in the first place is ridiculous especially given the lack of clarity in the second amendment (eg it does not specify types of arms so that should be handled by laws not as a "do what you will free for all").

That said it seems there are some major elements that would be necessary to reduce gun deaths in the US and there are some obfuscating interests embodied in the NRA that must be sidestepped or accommodated in the solution.

Four main areas of focus jump out to reduce gun deaths:

1) "mass killings" (included in this would be the 2 or 3 person shootings as well as as Newtown or Aurora types)
2) Accidental shootings
3) Non-owner shootings (eg the shooter is not the owner of the gun)
4) "black market" trading

Added to these I would say the parameter that makes gun control legislation difficult is gun manufacturer revenue stream protection using the second amendment as a shill.

So what are the necessary parameters to make something happen vs. the absurdity of what is going to happen over the next few months in Washington:

1) Figure out a way that shifting policy creates more revenue for gun manufacturers so they get the NRA on board
2) Make sure that guns cannot be used in public places or by someone other than their owner

The Idea - Mandatory gun locks and universal kill switches.

On locks, all responsible gun owners have gun safes. Why not move the lock to the gun's trigger mechanism either with a combination code or biometric locks. That would prevent unauthorized use of the gun by anyone but the owner.

On kill switches, in the same locking mechanism put a chip and actuator that freezes the locking mechanism mentioned above when it receives a certain modulated radio signal.

If mandatory then all existing guns will have to be refitted with the new bolt mechanism creating revenue streams for the gun manufacturers and on all new guns they can charge more creating more revenue.

Thoughts?

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    Maxime Touzel

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    Jan 29 2013: Requires a solution that is painless to everyone. I do not agree, i'd say a solution to this issue has to be painful for the institutions responsible. AKA the gun manufacturers and those affiliated with the commerce of death. AKA War.

    Retroactively up to 50 years.
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      Eric Preissler

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      Jan 29 2013: I agree. Do you think that if a certain type of gun is traced back to a murder the gun company should be held liable? I do. If it can be done with bars selling alcohol and being responsible for drunken accidents, then I think gun companies should be sued for shootings. Great post!

      • Jazz Sutto

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        Jan 29 2013: If it was shown that the person was irresponsible and left the gun unsecured in an area that was not theirs, yes.

        If someone steals your car and then kills someone with it, should you be held liable for ONLY having a key lock?

    • shawn disney 10+

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      Jan 29 2013: Maxime: If "Guns" really have the Mystical Powers you ascribe to them (turning people into mindless killing machines), how do you explain the Swiss, the most civilized of people, who are more heavily armed than we are, but don't go in for shooting people at all?!
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        Maxime Touzel

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        Jan 29 2013: Mystical Powers ?!

        No i say that if gun manufacturers would be charged for every gun they sell up to ten times the price of the gun, no one would risk manufacturing guns.

        Make the commerce of death illegal internationally so that no one wants to end up in jail for making money from indirect killing. Same with every industry that makes WMD. Sue them from the start, sue the guns companies that made guns for the past 50 years, shut down this industry.

        • frank g

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          Jan 29 2013: 1) To reduce AR violence mandate that owners must keep their weapons away from minors and disturbed individuals in the home or face severe civil and criminal consequences with mandatory jail time.

          2) To reduce handgun related violence declare the Bloods, Crips, MS13, Hells Angels.... demonstrably violent gangs.... as TERRORISTS. Treat them like enemy combatants. Use the NDAA 2012 and extended Patriot Act against them without mercy. Sure we have many people in prison and yet our crime rates are down!!!! Go figure.

        • Jazz Sutto

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          Feb 1 2013: @ frank

          The AR in AR-15 stands for Armalite rifles. The AR I am guessing you are using (Assault Rifle) has a law in place. The NFA. Unless an Assualt Riflle was made before May 1982 you cannot own it.

          The actual definition of an assault rifle is a fully reciprocating machine gun. Don't get sucked into media portrayals of semi-automatic rifles.

    • shawn disney 10+

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      Jan 31 2013: maxime: interesting idea, but guns are a small part of it. What do you propose to do about that major US export item: super efficient modern military weapons, capable of killing people at a rate these mass shooters can only dream if,?
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        Maxime Touzel

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        Jan 31 2013: I say that this industry is a criminal industry, it should be sued for crime against humanity. It's a multi-billion or trillion business but it should be stopped by a MORAL gauge LAW over the international market.

        • Jazz Sutto

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          Feb 1 2013: Orwellian society! Come to the dark side.

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