Gun violence is my personal hot button issue.

[flamin lib]

I've said in other posts that I own guns and enjoy shooting although I don't often. But on a day like today I ask myself what can be done to reduce this insane violence and I came to the conclusion that the only way any law that might have an effect can be enforced is with one crucial tool: a national registry tying firearms to owners.

Universal background checks? Not as long as one individual can sell to another without fear that the gun can be traced back to the seller. Permit to purchase? Not as long as private sellers can transfer guns without restriction. The only restriction on private sales is "to knowingly sell to a prohibited person". Well, gee, the guy had tears tattooed on his face and spider webs on his elbows but how was I to know? But if the gun were tied to the seller and the seller was held responsible for acts carried out with that gun until paperwork transferred it to someone else I guarantee the buyer would be looked at pretty damn closely.

The NRA types are paranoid about the government coming to take their guns but there is no way anybody wants to do that even if it were possible.

Everything else we try to do just nibbles around the edges without this one basic tool. Knowing who has guns and what they do with them. Personal responsibility.

With a registry in place UBC becomes a reality. Reporting of lost/stolen guns becomes a reality. Straw purchases can be prevented. Confiscation of guns in the hands of domestic abusers, new felons and those of danger to themselves and others can happen.

I can hear the objection now, "Criminals won't register their guns!" and the "SC killer bought his gun legally and this would not have prevented the killing". No one law or tool will prevent every single incident but that doesn't mean we can't prevent a lot of the 30,000 gun deaths and 100,000 gun injuries every year. Over time the number of un-registered guns will fall to a level that will have a substantial reduction in gun violence.

Every journey begins with a single step and it is time to put one foot in front of the other.