Enough is enough. There are policies to curb gun violence without endangering rights

I like guns. I own guns. I’ve enjoyed bird hunting, as well as trap, skeet and target shooting since I was a boy. I’ve been a member of the NRA my whole adult life. I strongly support our constitutional right to bear arms.

That being said, it’s obvious that we must do more in this country, as soon as possible, to prevent firearms from getting into the hands of those who, we all agree, shouldn’t have them: children, mentally unstable folks and dangerous criminals.

How do we do that? First, change federal law to prohibit the purchase of any type of firearm (or ammunition) by persons under 21. (Under current law, one must be 21 or older to buy a handgun, but only 18 to buy a rifle or a shotgun). There simply is no good reason why one must be 21 to buy beer or cigarettes but only 18 to buy an AR-15. I am not suggesting that persons under 21 not be allowed to possess guns and ammunition for military service, to learn gun safety, target shoot or hunt, only that they not be allowed to purchase guns or ammunition on their own.

Second, change federal law to prohibit any person receiving social security disability income due to a mental or emotional condition from purchasing firearms. This could be easily accomplished by simply adding current SSDI enrollment records to the criminal records database already accessible to licensed gun dealers.

Third, change federal law to require background checks for firearm purchases from private individuals just as they are currently required for purchases from licensed gun dealers. These background checks could be easily accomplished by requiring them to be performed by licensed gun dealers for a nominal service fee. I’m not suggesting that inter-family transfers of guns via gifts or inheritances should require background checks, only arm’s length transactions between unrelated persons.

Fourth, at the State level, enact so-called “red flag” laws to allow a judge to immediately enter a no access to firearms order to remove guns temporarily from persons who make credible threats to harm themselves or others, at the request of law enforcement, healthcare providers, family or friends. (Some states, such as Colorado and Florida, already have done so.) Over 50% of all firearm-caused deaths in the United States are suicides, so this would reduce the number of those tragedies as well as mass shootings.

The right to possess firearms, like all other constitutionally-protected rights, is not unlimited. In order for the many (rational, law-abiding adults) to enjoy the exercise of their right to bear arms, there must be some restrictions on the rights of the few (children, the mentally unstable and dangerous criminals).

And spare me the slippery slope argument that any or all of the above common-sense measures would somehow inevitably lead to government confiscation of assault rifles or high-capacity magazines. There are currently over 400 million firearms including over 20 million assault rifles lawfully owned in the United States. It would be logistically, financially & politically impossible to confiscate them. Moreover, even during the ten-year assault rifle import ban from 1994-2004, there was no attempt whatsoever to confiscate any firearms from their lawful citizen owners.

No other country in the entire world has anywhere near the number of mass shootings that we continue to suffer in the United States (243 through this year on June 5.) This is not a “gun problem,” nor is it a “people problem.” It’s a “wrong people with guns” problem.

We can, should and must act now to do all we can to prevent any future mass shootings. It’s time. In fact, it’s way past time. To continue to do nothing is to tacitly aid and abet the mass murder of more innocent people. To that I say: Enough is enough. And if our elected representatives won’t take action now, there’s one more thing we can, should & must do: Vote them out of office this November.