I grew up in Wyoming, my dad owned the kinds of guns that
could, in about 3 seconds, shred a herd of Antelope or ATF agents hopping out
of black helicopters.
I (sort of) get both hunting and non-hunting gun culture.
I get the 2nd Amendment being ingrained into
America’s basic understanding of Freedom, and intrinsic to the covenant between
We the People and the State.
At the same time, lessening or even ending gun violence is a
truly worthy goal.
So, here is my proposal for gun ownership accountability:
1. All gun owners must
be members of a well-regulated militia.
2. Militias are liable
in civil court for all damages done by guns and bullets connected to members.
3. Militias may not declare
bankruptcy.
Essentially
Militias would become insurance pools. It would be in their best interest to
encourage safe choices, regulate member’s gun purchases and sales, and reject
folk who pose a danger to our society.
Some
Militias would probably have a pretty low bar for membership and fees—for
example the “Revolutionary Era Musket Collectors and Skeet Shooting” Militia. The “Hey, Bob,
look what I can do with a modified Bazooka and a Watermelon!” Militia would
probably have a much higher bar for entry and fees.
Think about
it, even the NRA, generally not amenable to regulation of guns, could make a
killing! They have a mailing list, a reputation, and would have the
greatest membership pool from which to draw.
One of the
things many gun-folk aren’t fond of is the idea of a centralized organization
forcing people to make particular choices. This scheme would be decentralized,
voluntary, and rely on the free market for regulation.
And, I
would hope, make gun deaths less likely.
