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comment by kleinbl00
kleinbl00  ·  3098 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: How They Got Their Guns

The fundamental issue is that "meaningful gun reform" is different from "gun reform." Point to the Brady Bill on this graph:

Now look at this graph:

...and recognize that the data here is disputed, controversial, and argued about by both sides... and their reform was of the "not fucking around" kind.

So. Let's:

- buy back all the guns we can

- prohibit the import and sale of new semiautomatic rifles

- require permits for everything

- implement a 4-week waiting period

- eliminate gun shows

- license owners

...and bad things will still happen.

To be perfectly clear: I would wholeheartedly support "meaningful" gun reform. I spent my teens in that crazy "trenchcoat mafia" zone. But part of the reason nothing happens is "do something" isn't good enough. We need to "do something severe" and that's a lot harder. Consider the shitshow we had over bloody health insurance. Now imagine the 'wingers if you said "oh, by the way if you want to own a gun you need a license with your photo on it... and a permit for every weapon. And we're melting down every semi-auto we can find and you'll never be able to buy another."

Assume everybody agrees to it, the end result will be assault weapons become crazy stupid expensive, not impossible to find.