A Sensible Plan

In recent discussions about gun violence, one argument that I have heard repeatedly is that there are already lots of guns in the US, and we can’t get rid of all of them.

Removal of existing guns is not the objective. Most gun owners should be able to keep the firearms that they already own as long as they store them securely.

Let’s start by not selling MORE guns to 18-year-olds.

1. Implement minimum age restrictions for purchasing a firearm: 21 for most guns, 25 for semi-automatic weapons.

2. Require a background check for all firearm purchases and transfers.

3. Every firearm must have a registered owner.

4. If someone commits a crime with a gun that they don’t own, the owner can face civil and criminal penalties.

5. Establish red flag laws to help identify people who are in crisis.

6. Fund adequate mental health support to deal with red flag cases.