Suppose you could devise American gun regulations from scratch, without having to worry about whether they were legally or practically possible. How would you do it?
I would do it by breaking them down into categories and reviewing their social utility. Here are the results:
- RIFLES: Rifles are used almost exclusively for sport. They aren’t typically used in suicides, or to commit crimes, or even for personal protection. RESPONSE: Permit them with limited regulation, mostly focusing on use training.
- ASSAULT WEAPONS: Assault weapons are only useful for committing extremely violent crimes, including mass murder. They aren’t used for personal protection or hunting. RESPONSE: Ban them.
- HANDGUNS: This is the tough category, because it is where the gun violence action really is, the attention given to mass shootings notwithstanding. Handguns aren’t used for hunting. They are usually the weapon of choice for crimes and suicides. They are, however, used for recreation at gun ranges, and they are also used legitimately for personal protection. RESPONSE: Impose extensive regulations on their ownership and use. In most jurisdictions, where crime is not much of a problem, they could be completely banned. In areas in which personal protection is more of an issue, background checks, real training programs, and gun security measures would be required, and enforced rigorously.