It’s a common mistake to assume that gun buybacks are being proposed as a solution. The solutions being proposed are a set of laws/policies to tighten gun controls, like who’s allowed to buy guns, what guns are allowed to be owned and how many, improving checks and mitigating newer loopholes.
Tighter gun controls are shown to reduce mass shootings. In Australia, the laws have loosened a lot since the big wave of gun laws in 1996. The buyback program is a consequence of bringing people in line with the new laws.
The realistic goal is not to make it absolutely impossible for a motivated extremist with lots of resources to plan and commit a mass shooting, it’s to make it much harder to prepare to do and to create more opportunities to notice their preparation.
I’d go further: the goal of legislation like this isn’t to reduce gun crime at all, or deal with the intent to murder…that’s dealt with in different legislation.
The goal here is to reduce harm…it makes a huge difference what weapon a criminal has access to when they’re trying to kill people. Gun nuts can’t get their heads around or cope with the difference between a potential mass murderer having a knife and a fully automatic weapon. They’ll change the subject.
It’s a common mistake to assume that gun buybacks are being proposed as a solution. The solutions being proposed are a set of laws/policies to tighten gun controls, like who’s allowed to buy guns, what guns are allowed to be owned and how many, improving checks and mitigating newer loopholes.
Tighter gun controls are shown to reduce mass shootings. In Australia, the laws have loosened a lot since the big wave of gun laws in 1996. The buyback program is a consequence of bringing people in line with the new laws.
The realistic goal is not to make it absolutely impossible for a motivated extremist with lots of resources to plan and commit a mass shooting, it’s to make it much harder to prepare to do and to create more opportunities to notice their preparation.
Agree with all.
I’d go further: the goal of legislation like this isn’t to reduce gun crime at all, or deal with the intent to murder…that’s dealt with in different legislation.
The goal here is to reduce harm…it makes a huge difference what weapon a criminal has access to when they’re trying to kill people. Gun nuts can’t get their heads around or cope with the difference between a potential mass murderer having a knife and a fully automatic weapon. They’ll change the subject.