Sensible gun laws you say. How can that be? When they talk about gun control and more gun
laws, how do sensible and well-meaning gun owners respond? Sometimes we just roll our eyes
and look away. Sometimes we groan and make guttural noises under our breath. Some of us get
angry and try to speak out. Often times, we get so upset with all the anti-gun rhetoric and lies that
we are at a loss for words, or speak out in anger and disgust, sounding stupid, scary or extreme.
Either way, gun owners are normally at a loss to advocate any new firearm laws. The
anti-gunners and the uninformed folks in the middle may take this lack of input and ideas as typical
of "extremists" and "gun nuts". Or maybe, just so typical of our factions hatred of any gun laws. The
good news is that there are some "sensible" gun laws and we gun owners should be able to
promote and discuss them. We should all be able to clearly articulate some sensible gun laws and
firearm policies to the anti-gunners, the press, our elected representatives and to our fellow gun
and civil rights supporters. Some sensible gun laws follow:
Ten Sensible Gun Laws:
1. The right to own and possess firearms for self-defense, hunting and sport can not be
infringed. No laws or statutes can be enacted that infringe upon this right.
2. The right to defend oneself is a basic human right and a civil right that can not be infringed.
As in current statutes, self-defense extends to defending those in you immediate presence from the
threat of grave bodily harm or deadly force.
3. It is illegal for any person to use or possess a firearm during the commission of a
felony. This
simple and sensible law alone would eliminate hundreds if not thousands of redundant and ancillary
gun laws.
a) Should a person possess a firearm during the commission of a
felony, an additional 10 years will be added to their sentence.
b) Should a Person use a firearm during the commission of a felony, an additional 20 years will be added to their sentence.
[ The terms firearm use and firearm possession are clearly defined by state and federal statutes. A
common definition of these terms would be easy to define and implement as our national legal
standard. ]
4. It is illegal for a person to use or posses a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or other
controlled substance. [ Provisions could be made for one whom has a legal firearm stored safely in
their car after they consume alcohol. ] However, it is incumbent on the owner of the firearm to disarm
themselves in a safe and sensible manner prior to the consumption of alcohol or
a legal drug. A safe and sensible manor might be to lock the firearm in a home safe or a security container prior to your
night on the town, or to unload your gun and place the gun in the trunk of the car, and the ammo in
the glove compartment, prior to legal consumption. In the case of illegal drugs; if you use illegal
drugs while in the possession of a firearm, see rule number 3 and add 10 years to your drug
possession sentence.
5. It is illegal and prohibited to carry a gun when visiting a prison inmate or entering a high
security area on military base.
6. It is sensible to prohibit visitors from carrying guns into government facilities that are likely
targets of terrorists, such as the White House, IRS or BATF office.
7. Sensible firearm laws must allow people and businesses the right to prohibit firearm use and
possession on their private property and place of business. Property and business owners can
post "No Guns" signs and lawfully ask visitors to disarm prior to entry or to leave. (Although this is
normally a bad idea and "No Guns" signs are a great way to advertise your vulnerability to the
criminal element, we can not infringe on the rights a property owner has over their property.)
8. Places that prohibit individual firearm possession, must provide adequate security for visitors
and patrons, and are legally responsible for the safety and protection of said visitors and patrons.
[ This issue alone would put an end to most of the No Gun signs in America. When the bean
counters figure out that a large law suit, supported by statute, may cost them millions of dollars
should a visitor or patron be injured or killed by a criminal, while on their property. The
legal precedent for this has been adjudicated, and large damages have been awarded to lawful gun
permit and concealed carry license holders who were disarmed and subsequently shot, injured or
killed by a criminal. ]
9. Another sensible and much needed proviso should be that places that prohibit the possession
of arms MUST provide adequate, supervised storage facilities for the owner's firearm. Like a coat
checkroom for guns. Few facilities are equipped to handle a visitor's firearm now.
10. Laws should be enacted that appropriate public funds for voluntary civilian firearms training.
Additional public funds should be appropriated for the construction and maintenance of public
shooting ranges.
The next time you are at a loss for words or found making animalistic noises at the anti's under
your breath, simply refer to the list of sensible gun laws above. I am certain that there must be other
sensible gun laws, if you have an idea for one, please send it my way. Together the
honest gun owners of America can reclaim our historically honorable position. If we can talk about good gun laws
we can help create a National Firearm Policy that we can all live with. Until we have a sensible
National Firearm Policy we are all in danger of loosing our gun rights and our liberty.
Our goals as lawful and sensible gun owners should be simple and our views should be honest
and straightforward. In simple terms we must work for the right to keep and bear arms until our
national and local leaders stop threatening our right of self defense and our right to own and
possess firearms. Legal and sensible gun owners see firearm ownership and possession as one
of our most important civil rights.
Our National Firearms Policy should include the following
tenants:
- The right to possess firearms for self-defense, hunting and sport
can not be infringed.
- The right to defend oneself is a civil right, a basic human right
that can not be infringed.
- The right of self-defense and possession of firearms need not be
granted by government and is a right that can not be taken away.
- The 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is a personal right and
that private firearm ownership is an unalienable right that protects
both life and liberty, and facilitates the pursuit of happiness.
- An armed populace is the guarantor of all other rights and the
people's right to keep and bear arms shall not and can not be
infringed.
We the people, as sensible, law abiding, honest gun owners, must continue to try and make
good sense as we educate others and rationally state our beliefs. We must continue to work for the
rights of firearm owners until a sensible national firearm policy exists. A national firearm policy that
acknowledge our rights and includes firearm ownership, possession and the right of self-defense in
all aspects of legislative, statutory and regulatory activity.
With out regard to who our next president is, we are a country of laws and it is clear that our
congress is split almost 50 - 50. The elections are over and many of the anti-gun candidates were
defeated, while other's were elected. Even with our victories, as sensible and legal gun owners we
can not stop the battle for our rights and we can not let down our guard. We must continue to act in
a sensible and responsible manor to encourage our newly elected and our existing political
leaders, that a sensible national firearm policy is needed. A national firearm policy that includes
only sensible gun laws.
Now is the time for all sensible firearm owners to come to the aide of their country.
This article was inspired by "Doctors
For Sensible Gun Laws". You can visit them on the internet at URL:
http://www.KeepAndBearArms.com/dsgl
Writer and Gun Rights Activist, Marvin
V. Stenhammar is the Founder / Director of Gunnery Network. Gunnery
Network is a large noncommercial firearms information web. Marv can be
contacted by telephone at 828-631-GUNS or via e-mail at [email protected].
For more ideas and gun rights resources please visit the following web
sites:
URL: http://www.2ndAmendment.Net
URL: http://www.RKBA.Net
URL: http://www.DirectedFire.com
URL: http://www.GunneryNetwork.com
This article can be reproduced and disseminated
in unchanged and intact form.
We ask that proper credits with a link back to Gunnery Network be given as
applicable.
Copyright © 2000 Marvin
V. Stenhammar. All rights reserved.
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