Can we reasonably expect the government capable of predicting which of us can be trusted with a gun?

I don’t think our government is capable of balancing their own checkbooks or even to figure out how to boil water. They have yet to make a big decision that wasn’t geared solely in favor of themselves or their cronies.

So trust no one, do nothing, and wonder why nothing changes…?

Brilliant.

With the right laws in order, and being enforced, I do think it can.

Since there is no reason for a gun except to kill, no need to trust anyone. The only guns not being fired are by law enforcement when there is a school shooting.

I think we can certainly do better than we are now. If you’ve ever been involved in domestic violence, demonstrated rage issues, written a manifesto (on any topic—it really doesn’t matter), jerked off to “Guns & Ammo” etc. then I think that should be enough to disqualify you from service in our nation’s “well regulated militia.”

Put two rats in a box, feed them, and they will multiply. When the box gets full, the rats will turn on each other and kill each other. Humanity is no different, so why fight it? Guns or no guns, the rats are afoot!

^^^^ I think about that often as populations increase.

You will never predict human behavior perfectly, and I don’t think anyone is claiming that they can. But there are some clear risk factors that we can be better about getting reports from states into the national background check database. Right now, many states don’t report any data, others are months out of date.

People with known psychiatric issues that make them a danger should clearly not be sold a gun. People fresh out of jail on parole for a violent offense should clearly not be sold a gun. I don’t think many people would disagree with some of those basic criteria. And yet, we know the federal database isn’t being updated by every state in real time. And some states produce inaccurate data, which in a way, is even worse than out of date data.

I’m not in favor of reacting to every spree shooting with massive gun control, but I think everyone should favor us doing a better job executing the one’s most people agree with like background checks. Most gun owners (according to polls) support background checks. Let’s all agree that we should do that better.

@kritiper Calhoun’s Mouse Universe?

@gorillapaws Did you say jerked off to “Guns & Ammo” I might be in trouble here. Shit!