Is there any doubt that we have “regulation” up the ass on guns? Seriously? We have tons (literally) of regulation on the federal, state and local level. The regulations in place make it difficult to impossible for people like me, with zero criminal record, zero bad intent and decent eyesight, interest and training, to acquire, transport and use weapons legally. If I really pursued it, I could get a Connecticut pistol permit, apply for a handgun purchase at a local dealer and wait for the mandated federal background check and waiting period, then (probably) buy ammunition (when I produce the pistol permit to show that I can buy it), and then, if I’m careful in how I transport it and carry it, use it at a range to practice. But I can’t take it out of the state unless I obtain permits for the surrounding states, and transport through each state in an approved manner (which varies from state to state). And I can’t carry the weapon into areas posted as “gun free”, including Federal buildings, court houses, post offices and any number of other places where guns are “banned”.
The regulations in place have prevented at least one “good person” from owning a weapon. Congratulations. You’ve saved yourself from… me.
In the meantime, I know that within five miles of where I live (literally) there are hundreds of illegal guns (illegal under current law) owned by people without permits, without training of any kind, and probably without a clean bill of sale on the weapon, either. And some of those may be used in shootings tonight, because Hartford, for all that it’s kind of a sleepy little capital city that doesn’t get a lot of press, does have a significant number of homicides each year. Mostly from weapons that are already illegal.
We do not need more fucking laws. You do not need more protection from “me”.