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Wednesday, October 4, 2017

If We Can't Regulate Guns, Can We Regulate Their Owners?

We seem to be missing the 'well-regulated' part.
Yet another ghastly attack on innocent civilians raises yet another round of agonizing questions. Like, why we can't do something to limit easy access to weapons of mass destruction by demented killers?

Sadly, in spite of the exponential increase in such tragedies in recent years, we seem to be getting nowhere when it comes to regulating guns. And since we keep hearing adages like "Guns don't kill people, people do," should we begin to take steps to regulate their owners instead?

So, with tongue partly in cheek, here's a radical idea that actually fits the wording of the Second Amendment itself. Why not have gun owners be drafted to become a part of weekend citizen militias formed in every town and hamlet in the US, headed by the governor of their respective states?

The purpose of their required monthly(?) training would not be to subvert or oppose the national government, but to collaborate with it for the general welfare and safety of the populace. In fact, every meeting should logically begin with a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance (to the United States of America), followed by a pledge to never use any weapon of any kind to harm or kill any innocent person anywhere in the nation.

The primary focus of these civilian forces would be for civil defense in the case of a national emergency and for concerted responses to natural disasters caused by floods, wildfires, tornadoes and hurricanes.

Pro-life citizens opposed to owning guns (except for use in hunting or for control of animals destructive of crops and other wildlife) and/or who for reasons of conscience were against using a gun even for self defense, would be granted exemption from militia service. They would be given conscientious objector status, but could also be organized into civilian-based National Disaster Service (NDS) units available to serve in times of national crises.

And personally I'd be willing to exempt folks who only owned musket loaded weapons like those of the framers of the Constitution. Using only such weapons would have saved an awful lot of lives in Las Vegas.

If this plan wouldn't work, tell me what will. I just can't bear to see any more senseless slaughter.

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