Americans Speak on Gun Control

[highflyerlaura]

I think that both sides in this situation are going to have their good points, however I think that the easiest way to solve this confrontation would be to offer a compromise.

Over here in Australia we have a Firearms Registry/Permit system that performs a criminal records search (for firearms offences), while also performing a psychiatric and general firearms safety test. What happens is that a person who wants to aquire a firearm for either recreational or commercial reasons apllies via the police for a Firearms Use and Safety Course, which is run by the Firearms Registery. The Registry then informs the applicant of the Certified Weapons Instructors for their regions, providing contact details for these individuals. The Weapon Instructor will then at an agreed date and time provide a detailed firearms safety course over the period of a few hours if it is an individual, or 2 days if it is a group. This normally occurs at a certified Gun Range and goes through all aspects relating to every different class of firearms, from disabled collectables to handguns, rifles, semi- and auto-matic weapons etc.

At the end of the course the Weapons Officer will issue a written test with questions relating to firearms safety, firearms use and psychiatry being present. All applicants have to then fill out an application for their license and the reasons why they are requesting a specific class-permit in front of the Weapons Instructor, while supplying 3 different sources of Identification (with one photo ID being compulsory). The Weapons Instructor then processes the tests and applications, then sends them off to the Firearms Registry where they are analysed, marked and a decision made on the suitability of the application. As soon as the application is made, a criminal records check is done in conjunction with checking the ID. If either the ID confirmation, Criminal Records check or Psychiatric/Weapons Testing aren't of a specific standard or higher, the Firearms License will not be issued. The presentation of the licence is then compulsory when purchasing ammunition, firearms and some related equipment. The entire process from start to finish when acquiring a license for the first time normally takes about 3 to 4 months due to the processing of the criminal records.

I know that this would make a lot more paperwork for you Americans, though that system works fine over here and is in use with all classes of firearms. Theres talk over here though of eventually phasing in a swipe-card system to reduce the official red-tape, however that is still being debated on. Due to the changes implemented nation-wide back around 1997 after the Port Aurthur Massacre in 1996, we've actually seen a reduction in gun related crimes and deaths. While still taking into the constitutional right of Americans to bear arms, a system such as this would ensure that it is harder for psychiatrically-disturbed people to aquire a firearm, not to meantion making it harder for people to purchase firearms illegally. This system would be even safer if it was a requirement for retesting (though not neccessarily the course) to be conducted every 5 years or so, just like it is here.