OK, I'll bite.

First, as a retired weapons instructor, I'll be one of the first to say that proper weapons instruction should be first and foremost in any gun owner's mind when they go to buy a gun. I'd personally love nothing more than to see the proper firearms education of all Americans, young and old alike, become a given in this nation. I'd love and support fully the rebirth of local gun clubs and shooting organizations that could support such education. In a perfect world, all people who chose to own a firearm would be responcible enough to seek out and obtain the education that would make them good upstanding members of the firearms owning community.

However, should we make this a requirement of buying a gun? Even if we did make it a requirement, who could enforce such legislation? Oh sure, gun dealers and shops would be checking and ensuring the training, but what about Joe Blow who's looking to unload a gun so he can afford to feed his family. Do you honestly believe that he'll check someone's credentials before selling him a gun?

You've stated that, "Some people out there should not be allowed to own guns." Don't get me wrong, I actually agree, in part, with that statement. However, I can also tell you that on more than one occation, I've stated, when seeing little kids in stores using foul language, ignoring their parents, reaking havoc and totally out of control, "Some people out there should not be allowed to bear young." Afterall, it's often these same out of control kids who have no respect for their parents, or authority of any kind, who are most likely to commit crimes with firearms. Yet, we don't see anyone suggesting legislation to make it mandatory for parents to obtain training before plowing youngin's out like puppies, do we? An undisciplined child can be far more dangerous than any firearm know to mankind.

What this all really comes down to is RESPONCIBILITY. A responcible adult, will take it upon themselves to get the training necessary to ensure the safety of their weapons, and their family. There is no reason for the government to infringe upon the responcible citizens because there are so many out there who are not responcible enough to ensure these safetys.

Responcibility is why we maintain laws that punish the people who missuse their freedoms. Lack of responcibility is why we create laws to punish all in the hopes of preventing anyone from miss using their freedoms.

So as much as I agree that training is vitally important to anyone who owns a firearm, and as much as I feel that Parental education is vital for anyone who reproduces, I must disagree that these forms of training be made MANDATORY. Especially if we are to leave it to the Government to control. Haven't you ever heard the phrase that strikes fear in the hearts of all free Americans? "I'm with the Government, I'm here to help."