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Firearm Licensing

dcinffxvadcinffxva Member Posts: 2,830 ✭✭
I'm not saying that I support this, but it was just a thought, and I'm soliciting opinions.

Many times in the anti-gun argument, the comparison to cars is brought up. "If we have to license cars, why not guns ?"

I know I have limits when it comes to some things. I should not use a bandsaw or radial arm saw. Everyone has limits.

I'll wager that there are few here that have never been around someone at the range, and thought "That person has no business owning a gun".

A drivers license permits the bearer to drive. It does not specify WHAT you drive. If you choose to get an '84 Yugo, or a 2008 Callaway Corvette, or a 1910 Hupmobile, the choice is yours.

How many people would support a publicly funded (as in Drivers Education in schools) program that taught safety, had a basic test, and then licensed people to buy whatever they both wanted, and could afford ?

Also posted in the General Discussion forum.

Comments

  • Wagon WheelWagon Wheel Member Posts: 633 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
  • dcinffxvadcinffxva Member Posts: 2,830 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I doubt there is anyone here who will say that our rights have not been seriously infringed. I'm looking towards a way to get them back.
  • Wagon WheelWagon Wheel Member Posts: 633 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    dcinffxva:

    You never will by condoning more laws and more licensing!!
  • dcinffxvadcinffxva Member Posts: 2,830 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Good point, and I admit, I agree with you. I'm basically just looking to engage opinions. There has to be a good answer out there. The more minds involved, the better the chances.
  • remington nutremington nut Member Posts: 961 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    i see where you are going with this but i don't think it will help retain or regain our rights as gunowners, if anything it would promote more gun laws and restrictions. When they first started giving drivers licenses you could drive what you wanted where you wanted, now look at all the ways they control how you drive, speed limits, one way streets, have to have a license for a big truck (cdl) and one for a motorcycle and then one for your regular vehicle. That too was once a restriction free deal, but now to make everyone safer they've imposed more and more laws.
  • Wagon WheelWagon Wheel Member Posts: 633 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    remington nut:

    Not To Mention What The Insurance Companies Have Done to Us For their own Self Gratification. Can you even imagine where that would go with guns??
  • dcinffxvadcinffxva Member Posts: 2,830 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by remington nut
    i see where you are going with this but i don't think it will help retain or regain our rights as gunowners, if anything it would promote more gun laws and restrictions. When they first started giving drivers licenses you could drive what you wanted where you wanted, now look at all the ways they control how you drive, speed limits, one way streets, have to have a license for a big truck (cdl) and one for a motorcycle and then one for your regular vehicle. That too was once a restriction free deal, but now to make everyone safer they've imposed more and more laws.


    I'm going to agree with you for the vast majority of your points. Having been the sole person from the GB forums I have actually met gives your views more substance [:)]

    Again, this was a discussion based post, and does not reflect my actual opinions.

    This is a C&P from a similar thread on the "General Discussion board.

    "Just so there is no doubt to my agenda, and since it was brought into question:

    I DO NOT support the vast majority of the existing, or proposed legislation regarding firearms.

    I have been in law enforcement for over 20 years. I own a "couple" of class III firearms, that I went thru the hoops to get. I own these privately, and not as a result of my employment.

    Do I have access to all the "cool" toys as a result of my employment ? Absolutely. Anytime I want, I have access to machine guns, short barreled shotguns, supressors, grenade launchers etc.

    Do I think that this ability should be exclusive ? Absolutely not.

    Look at my previous posts. I have written to journalists, and legislators. None of these letters have advocated gun control legislation.

    I admit, I have not been trained in the use of an "assault" flashlight.

    I was born in 1961. I was too young for Vietnam, and too old for the Gulf wars. Instead of serving my country, I elected to serve my community, and have done so for over 23 years.

    Am I proud of the service I have done ? You can bet your * on it.

    I can truly say that I have made a difference.

    Now, the bottom line. I can carry anywhere in the USofA, I own machine guns. I am not looking to expand what I already have. I am looking for creative ways to extend that to more people. Fatboy can moan all he wants. I still don't know, nor care about why he seperated sevice. I can only surmise from his previous posts. He could not hack it. A man has to know his limitations.

    Now, all that being said, this is a DISCUSSION. Many of the other posters have had great input. Let's keep it at that. When some of the posters elevate to Supreme Court Justices, then we can elevate the discussion."

    All that being said for now, for Remingon Nut. Hope you had a good time at the shoot ! And as for anyone having the "fortitude" for showing up at an event, Remington Nut not only has some VERY cool toys, he is a hell of a good guy.
  • Marc1301Marc1301 Member Posts: 31,895 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Here is the BIG difference,..........the Constitution gives us the right to keep and bear arms. Which in modern lingo means buy, have, and carry,.........it is a "right".
    Nowhere in the constitution does it say we have the "right" to buy and drive motor vehicles. Driving a motor vehicle is a "privilege", not a "right".
    You might not like the idea of a blind guy having a gun, but he DOES have that right,.............the same fellow DOES NOT have a right to drive a car. He has been excluded from the privilege, because of his handicap, and his inherent danger to himself, and others, on the roadways.[;)]
    Edit: You were born the same year as I.
    "Beam me up Scotty, there's no intelligent life down here." - William Shatner
  • bpostbpost Member Posts: 32,669 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by dcinffxva
    Good point, and I admit, I agree with you. I'm basically just looking to engage opinions. There has to be a good answer out there. The more minds involved, the better the chances.


    I will vote for any Gub'Ment program when it is within the confines of the powers granted to he Gub'Ment under the articles of our Constitution.

    Until that is acheived or even on track my distrust of any Gub'Ment program, Policy, rule, Instruction, or Law is deeply ingrained.
  • WoundedWolfWoundedWolf Member Posts: 1,658 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Since we apparently have to pay for public education, and any argument that I could make that it is beyond the intended scope of government would probably be a waste of my breath... how about this idea...

    I have a CCW permit, which apparently makes me some kind of man-god if I buy into all the VT shooting hype. But the process I went through to get that CCW could easily be accomplished by most fifth graders. So how about we make the CCW equivalent training a high school graduation requirement (just like when shooting and archery were taught as physical education) and repeal all CCW laws so anybody can carry whatever, wherever, whenever.

    If you don't currently have a CCW and graduated from high school quite a while ago, then I would support a tax payer funded concealed carry training class (just voluntary, not required). And go ahead and make that class a REQUIREMENT for naturalized citizenship.

    To me that sounds like a "well trained Militia".
  • nyforesternyforester Member Posts: 2,575 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It sounds to me like you have been talking to Hillary, Schumer, Pelosi and Kennedy. We don't need any more tests, Permits, or Licenses. The way things are going, the government will try to limit how much oxygen we breathe.

    Marc said it - its our RIGHT ! We have given up enough RIGHTS.
    Abort Cuomo
  • Explorer1Explorer1 Member Posts: 45 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    To meet the intent of this idea AND be Consitutional, I propose that EVERYONE be instantly "deemed" law abiding and able to exercise those God given rights and the GOVERNMENT MUST prove otherwise.
    In other words, when you get your drivers license, for example, they MUST issue you a carry license which is GOOD IN ALL STATES unless THEY can prove BEYOND a shadow of a doubt you have violated some law which prohibits you from carrying.
    They you CAN carry in ALL locations (few exceptions, like prisons and court rooms) unless the GOVERNMENT takes action, at THEIR expense to PROVE you are prohibited.
    Then, of course, we need AT GOVERNMENT expense, safety training which is NOT mandatory.
    That would turn the tide back towards INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.
    And Hillary, Diane, Rosie, etc. can just tough it out with their paid body guards.
  • Slow_HandSlow_Hand Member Posts: 2,835
    edited November -1
    Dcinffxva, when I first came on board here on the GB forums, I, like you thought this was a viable and responsible compromise. I was summarily flamed - mostly politely - by many members and I can remember going toe-to-toe in a slew of posts and threads with a "grizzled old Marine" (his very words) by the name of Highball. I have to tell you that although I'm not anywhere near as passionate or polarized about TRTKBA as he is, I truly respect him and his stance. He, along with others, has given me greater insight to where I have come to realize that we as Americans simply cannot allow a right that is granted to us by our Constitution to be mollified into a privilege that is administrated so as to empower and secure those would first emasculate and then subjugate us.

    A right is not doled out to those who can "qualify" for it, with the criteria based upon the subjectiveness or prejudice of others.

    FWIW, I'm still a newbie about guns and by no means one of the "gunners" here on GB. But, I realize that as an American citizen I must defend the 2nd Amendment with the same verve, zeal and objectivity as I would the 1st, 4th, etc. Otherwise, our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness will erode away to where "privileges" will be portioned out by the government and only to those who are model and obedient citizens.

    Truth-be-told, nowadays, when I walk into a gun store or shooting range, I have absolutely no fears or quams about the awesome firepower and potential for disaster that is there alongside me. Much of what I grew up fearing (lived in NYC for 50+ years) I now realize was largely unfounded and the result of social indoctrination combined with a tremendous dependency upon the police presence there.

    A law-abiding person who carries a gun is not going to use it unless a self-defense situation arises. However, a person who drives does so day and night, at different times, under different conditions, on different roads, distracted, sleepy, impaired, angry, upset, etc. Better that drivers test for and get licenses instead of gun owners.
  • remington nutremington nut Member Posts: 961 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    dcinffxva, had a great time at the shoot i just wish i was a little less in pain from the vasectomy but i toughed it out and had fun. Can't wait till the next one, hopefully by then i can expand the toy selection, i have a few ideas in mind just waiting on the money department to catch up with the want list.

    After reading and responding to your post i've thought about the original question a few more times, and can only come up with more ways this would go against the intention. I'm not totally against the hoops you have to go through to get class III and other hard to get items, but at the same time i'm also in the mindset that it shouldnt take an act of congress and a bucket of 100 dollar bills to get what you want. You have to be licensed to sell guns, as a dealer, and look how hard the ATF has made that in the past 10 yrs or less to get a license to do so. Just my .02 on that....
  • gunphreakgunphreak Member Posts: 1,791 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'm going to let John Ross give us a thought on this....

    quote:"You know, driving is a luxury, whereas firearms ownership is a right secured by the Constitution. But let's put that aside for a moment. It's interesting you compared guns and vehicles. Here in the U.S. you can at any age go into any state and buy as many motorcycles, cars, or trucks of any size you want, and you don't need to do anything if you don't use them on public property. No license at all. If you do want to use them on public property, you can get a license at age 16. This license is good in all 50 states. No waiting periods, no background checks, nothing. If we treated guns like cars, a fourteen-year-old could go into any state and legally buy handguns, machine guns, cannons, whatever, cash and carry, and shoot them all with complete legality on private property. And at age 16 he could get a state license good anywhere in the country to shoot these guns on public property. Sounds great to me."
  • HighballHighball Member Posts: 15,755
    edited November -1
    quote:grizzled old Marine" (his very words) by the name of Highball
    I feel the need to set the record straight here. Not wanting to besmirch Gunnys' at all...

    I did my tour and got out. I am old. I am grizzled.
    That term should probably be reserved for the guys with the fortitude to remain in service for their 20-30 years...
    They are the backbone of the military. God bless 'em all....
  • Slow_HandSlow_Hand Member Posts: 2,835
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Highball
    quote:grizzled old Marine" (his very words) by the name of Highball
    I feel the need to set the record straight here. Not wanting to besmirch Gunnys' at all...

    I did my tour and got out. I am old. I am grizzled.
    That term should probably be reserved for the guys with the fortitude to remain in service for their 20-30 years...
    They are the backbone of the military. God bless 'em all....


    Didn't mean to embarrass you or put you on the spot, Highball. Sorry if I did. Just recounting our earlier sparrings and talking about what I've learned since.
  • HighballHighball Member Posts: 15,755
    edited November -1
    No problem at all, Slow Hand..
    Just felt the need to set the record staight on that subject.

    Thanks, by the way, for staying around.
  • Slow_HandSlow_Hand Member Posts: 2,835
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Highball
    No problem at all, Slow Hand..
    Just felt the need to set the record staight on that subject.

    Thanks, by the way, for staying around.


    And I'm still learning.[;)]
  • knightriderknightrider Member Posts: 450 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    In a perfect world. Firearm Licensing might work, but as we know this world is far from perfect. People that use guns for crimes don't follow the channels that law biding people do. It is this that Polichickens blindly think that the more laws that they put into effect the safer people will be. Sorry Charley it doesn't aways work that way. To a degree this already happens with the "waiting period."
  • pickenuppickenup Member Posts: 22,844 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by knightrider
    Polichickens
    I like that, care if I use it? [:D]
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