To: President Donald Trump, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
On Gun Safety
A Petition on Gun Safety
1. That automatic and semi-automatic weapons and any other “combat weapons” be made illegal.
2. That guns be licensed as automobiles are licensed. The license must accompany the owner any time a gun is carried, and no one may carry the gun except the owner. One of the requirements for gun ownership licensure be that the potential licensee receive training in gun safety, similar to the training required of law enforcement professionals. The license must be shown any law enforcement officer on request.
3. That gun owners must carry liability insurance on each gun. Such insurance should have a “non-insured pool” just as automobile liability insurance pools have. In any gun-related death or injury, a substantial payment should be paid to the survivor or the survivor’s survivors. At minimum it should be $100,000 per incident.
4. That everyone who purchases a gun undergo a background check. That a national database of gun owners be established, so that the record of a gun owner in one state may be viewed by gun vendors in any state.
5. That in every gun-related injury or death, a hearing be held, similar to that required of law enforcement professionals who discharge their weapons. If the owner is found to be negligent or unjustified in the firing of the weapon, the owner will permanently lose his or her license to own a gun. The results of the hearing should be entered into the gun owner’s record in the national registry, whether or not it resulted in a legal charge being filed.
6. That in the case of the theft of a gun, if the owner is found to have kept the gun other than in a locked and approved gun safe, the owner will lose his or her license to own any gun and shall forfeit all other guns.
1. That automatic and semi-automatic weapons and any other “combat weapons” be made illegal.
2. That guns be licensed as automobiles are licensed. The license must accompany the owner any time a gun is carried, and no one may carry the gun except the owner. One of the requirements for gun ownership licensure be that the potential licensee receive training in gun safety, similar to the training required of law enforcement professionals. The license must be shown any law enforcement officer on request.
3. That gun owners must carry liability insurance on each gun. Such insurance should have a “non-insured pool” just as automobile liability insurance pools have. In any gun-related death or injury, a substantial payment should be paid to the survivor or the survivor’s survivors. At minimum it should be $100,000 per incident.
4. That everyone who purchases a gun undergo a background check. That a national database of gun owners be established, so that the record of a gun owner in one state may be viewed by gun vendors in any state.
5. That in every gun-related injury or death, a hearing be held, similar to that required of law enforcement professionals who discharge their weapons. If the owner is found to be negligent or unjustified in the firing of the weapon, the owner will permanently lose his or her license to own a gun. The results of the hearing should be entered into the gun owner’s record in the national registry, whether or not it resulted in a legal charge being filed.
6. That in the case of the theft of a gun, if the owner is found to have kept the gun other than in a locked and approved gun safe, the owner will lose his or her license to own any gun and shall forfeit all other guns.
Why is this important?
For me, the issue is not so much gun control as gun safety.
In the US, we have an epidemic of gun-related deaths and injuries. The US, with about 5% of the world’s population, own more than 50% of the world’s guns. We have one of the highest murder rates of any nation. We have a large number of accidental deaths with guns.
I believe that the issues of gun safety is similar to the issue of automobile safety, and that a system of regulations on gun ownership paralleling the regulations on automobile safety is appropriate. In addition, every gun owner should carry liability insurance just as automobile owners do. Such liability insurance should be expensive enough that ownership of many guns is discouraged.
The incidence of gun-related accidents in the homes of law enforcement officials is significantly less than that in the homes of others.
One of the ready sources of unregistered guns used in crimes is gun theft. We need a long-term goal of having every gun registered and linked to its owner.
In the US, we have an epidemic of gun-related deaths and injuries. The US, with about 5% of the world’s population, own more than 50% of the world’s guns. We have one of the highest murder rates of any nation. We have a large number of accidental deaths with guns.
I believe that the issues of gun safety is similar to the issue of automobile safety, and that a system of regulations on gun ownership paralleling the regulations on automobile safety is appropriate. In addition, every gun owner should carry liability insurance just as automobile owners do. Such liability insurance should be expensive enough that ownership of many guns is discouraged.
The incidence of gun-related accidents in the homes of law enforcement officials is significantly less than that in the homes of others.
One of the ready sources of unregistered guns used in crimes is gun theft. We need a long-term goal of having every gun registered and linked to its owner.