Gun Control Idea I just heard...

[KAPA]

This one actually sounds reasonable considering where we are at today and what we currently have.

From my understanding, if you committed some crimes as a juvenile, your record is expunged once you turn 18 and you have a clean slate. If I recall correctly, a lot of these killers have had previous problems but were allowed to purchase a firearm due to their clean record when they turned 18. Moving forward they will no longer give you a clean slate when you are 18 and now these previous juvenile offenses will still be on your record for NCIS to see and deny you a firearm purchase.

Call me responsible, but I never understood the clean slate at 18 anyway.

IF all the states would agree to drop their own background check systems and we as a country relied on one background check system, I could go along with the removal of the clean slate. I would also require the BGC system to be able to be accessed at any government office for free so that private sales can be conducted easily and safely.

[Gman]

Who gets to define "some crimes" and is there ever a way to get your rights back via due process?

I ask this at a time where some people are calling to make not accepting "Anthropogenic Climate Change" as fact to be criminals.

[KAPA]

Who gets to define "some crimes" and is there ever a way to get your rights back via due process?

I ask this at a time where some people are calling to make not accepting "Anthropogenic Climate Change" as fact to be criminals.

Good questions... who decides now and what are the current crimes that prevent you from purchasing a firearm? I assume felonies and assault/violent crimes do you in.

Just to be clear, my stance is that if you are free you should be able to purchase a gun or a tank, whatever you want. Personally, I don't see it as being very smart to tell someone you can't buy a Glock, and then send them on their way. If they want to do something bad they can go rent a van full of fertilizer and drive it through Time's square or steal the gun of their choice.

[Irving]

This doesn't seem much different from anything else suggested. Minor in possession = no guns for life? What's the threshold? Crimes against another person?

[KAPA]

Same as it is now, and I don't think minor offenses like that prevent gun ownership. I could be wrong, if so, that is not the answer either.

[Skip]

That misdemeanor trespass ticket I got at 16 is going to haunt me forever.

[Gman]

Exactly. Kids can do stupid things. Do we really want to prevent people from getting past that?

[FoxtArt]

The other thing people EVERYWHERE of all types need to remember, is there is no PERFECT solution. People on the right are going to complain about select individual x falling through the cracks and being unnecessarily denied possession. People on the left are going to complain about select individual y falling through the cracks and going on a spree.

Each side is going to put the "cracks" up on pedestals to justify or vilify proposed solution. The diversity of thought in our country prevents there from being any magical Disney solution to the multitude of problems. Whether it's gun rights vs gun control, mass shootings, mental health, etc, select innocent people will ALWAYS suffer the ramifications of each and every decision, or each solution, or even inaction altogether.

The fact that a single innocent life is affected shouldn't weigh on the decision process, e.g. "every life is invaluable", or "what about bob" is not the standard. Rather, a balanced approach that either greatly affects the absolute smallest number of innocents possible; or somewhat affects many more innocents (but especially at a level of mere inconvenience) is a point of contention for proposals - including but not limited to, proposals for inaction, gun control, or gun rights.

[FoxtArt]

I wont comment on the solution / problem of this situation, but something to consider when it comes to BGC and priors:

BGC only consider the disposition of crimes. Being that 94-96% of cases are pled down - often to lesser charges, the disposition rarely reflects the actual crime committed. This is one reason why repeat sex offenders/rapists can easily reoffend - rapist takes a plea bargain in County A, it gets pled down to misdemeanor assault. He goes to county B, rapes someone, DA checks his background, he's got a prior for misdemeanor assault. Ok, so it's his first sex offense. DA offers a plea bargain offering to reduce it to misdemeanor assault. (this example ignores the sex offender registry). He pays fine, serves two weeks, moved on to county C. (county-to-county records are often independent of one another as well)

Rarely do officers/DA actually dig deep into arrest history or original charges. And firearm BCG only look at the disposition of things. So, it creates a highly unfair system as far as background checks are concerned - some counties might dispose the original charge (you punched someone, they disposed it felony assault and you served 30 days) while other counties might take absolutely-crazy-serious issues - you came to school with a loaded gun and threatened to kill everybody - and they might plea it down and dispose it at misdemeanor harassment; there's no clear record that you shouldn't be a firearms possessor.

[KAPA]

I wont comment on the solution / problem of this situation, but something to consider when it comes to BGC and priors:

BGC only consider the disposition of crimes. Being that 94-96% of cases are pled down - often to lesser charges, the disposition rarely reflects the actual crime committed. This is one reason why repeat sex offenders/rapists can easily reoffend - rapist takes a plea bargain in County A, it gets pled down to misdemeanor assault. He goes to county B, rapes someone, DA checks his background, he's got a prior for misdemeanor assault. Ok, so it's his first sex offense. DA offers a plea bargain offering to reduce it to misdemeanor assault. (this example ignores the sex offender registry). He pays fine, serves two weeks, moved on to county C. (county-to-county records are often independent of one another as well)

Rarely do officers/DA actually dig deep into arrest history or original charges. And firearm BCG only look at the disposition of things. So, it creates a highly unfair system as far as background checks are concerned - some counties might dispose the original charge (you punched someone, they disposed it felony assault and you served 30 days) while other counties might take absolutely-crazy-serious issues - you came to school with a loaded gun and threatened to kill everybody - and they might plea it down and dispose it at misdemeanor harassment; there's no clear record that you shouldn't be a firearms possessor.

Wow... So you are saying this isn't an easy answer and due to the problem not being able to fit into a tweet, nothing will be done except on the state level where we will get even more wacky and confusing laws where only lawyers and politicians make a bunch of money from but it does not actually prevent anything from occurring. Then a few months later this happens again and well, rinse and repeat.