Mark Small

Another measure of “too many” guns is a number of guns greater than the uses to which the person’s guns are put. If “self defense” is the purpose, a gun for each room in one’s dwelling might not be the proper measure. 4/15

Self-defense includes the notion of home security. Statistics and epidemiological studies that are peer-reviewed might be nice, but Federal law (Dickey and Tiahrt amendments), as a practical matter, precludes such studies. 5/15

Those amendments prohibit CDC from conducting, or others from using results of, research into gun violence as a health problem. CDC funding provides more than money. Standards are imposed and overall the work is > coordinated. 6/15

From cases I have handled in the practice of criminal law, I know burglars (a) try to break into houses when NO ONE is at home, thus guns do not deter, but (b) they love handguns to steal because they are quite easily fenced. 7/15

(2) Only the most obtuse gun “advocate” would say everyone should be able to own a gun. Categories of people who shouldn’t could include people who have said they want to emulate Charles Whitman (1966 sniper at University of Texas). 8/15

Other categories might include convicted felons (even though they have served their sentence), people with histories of perpetrating domestic violence, and other people with patterns of behavior that make guns in their hands problematic. 9/15

(3) Seriously - there is a line to be drawn on types of weapons. If you believe everyone should be able to own a nuke, then we can’t have a serious discussion. Let’s lower the bar: fully automatic weapons became a problem in this country after WWI. 10/15

The War Dept ordered 10K Thompson submachine guns (“tommy guns”), but they weren’t delivered until WWI was over. They became available on market to people like John Dillinger (a Hoosier) & others w/a proclivity for withdrawals from banks. 11/15