Would you support a requirement to either provide proof of weapons training (like military service) or attend a safety and proficiency course prior to being able to purchase a gun?
Requirement for gun safety and proficiency training?
- Thread starter Aloha Hoosier
- Start date
There was a time when that was the NRA'S primary function.
Yes. Indiana requires Hunter education in order to purchase a license. It should be no different if you want to shoot at a target.
I would also support more rigorous background checks for those under 21.
Of all the possible proposals out there, this one is the closest to a no-brainer.
People often compare us to Switzerland, since that's the European country with the strongest gun culture. One thing they have different (among many others) is a requirement for safety training.
Is the idea behind a safety class that a guy who wants to shoot up a school won't go through the effort so won't buy a gun?
I think obviously that's part of the idea...if not most of the idea.
Obviously gun safety education has a big benefit outside the motive of curbing mass murders.
I think the narrative that these mass shooters will all figure out a way to commit these horrific acts, no matter what...is a false narrative. Some will have the desire and resolve to go through a more stringent testing, background check, system, yes. Some will still acquire their weapons from their parents, or illegally on the secondary market. But having testing, training, background checks, wait times, etc... will absolutely deter some of these shooters. In all their situations, they all had to make the decision to pick their gun up, get in their vehicle, drive to a place where lots of people are, and shoot some people up. That's a very stressful and emotional time for most of them. If you add checkpoints, road blocks, etc... that make that process harder and last longer, some of them will change their mind.
Partly, yes (as IUnorth noted just before I did).
I think the other benefit is getting a trainer to interact with the trainee (ie, future school shooter). There is a small chance that the trainer can recognize some warning signs about the guy he is working with and either deny the license or, at the very least, notify authorities to keep an eye out if something doesn't feel right.
Like these school shooters wouldn’t still have a chance to get a gun? I’ve never seen an illegal gun being purchased but I’m sure it happens.
