[astarothel]

My stance on firearms:

A semi-automatic weapon, or weapons with semi-automatic capabilities (especially rifles) or better are not civilian weapons. Play with them at a range all you want, but I don't think I want these belong anywhere in a residence.

Weapons registration is a no brainer. I don't care how inconvenient it is, the excuse that criminals don't have to register their guns doesn't float with me. law enforcement officials should be able to pull up that sort of thing. If Jimbo is involved in a domestic disturbance with his wife, if I were the police I think I'd like to know if he has any registered firearms ahead of time.

The screening process and background check on firearms needs to be improved dramatically, especially for concealable firearms. I don't care if it takes an extra month, the current process needs to be improved in both Canada and the US. I do not feel that there are many cases where firearm is needed as quickly as they are available. Self-defense in the event a person feels threatened isn't a great reason in and of itself. The reason I say this is that a person getting a firearm for self defense won't have the training and judgment required to use it properly. This ties in to my next point.

Everyone that owns a gun thinks they know how to use it well or properly.
A large number of these people are wrong. The firearms safety course should be 1) mandatory in all states, and 2) more extensive. Retakes on the safety course should be required (maybe not yearly but every so often) for renewing your license. Wish I could find the clip from tv I saw a while ago (from 60 Minutes I think) that proved this. I will look for it later.