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RE: An Introspective Opinion on Gun Control
Guns are not a left-right issue they are a pro-gun anti-gun issue. Nothing wrong with being a pro-gun liberal.
Psychological evaluations are a fine idea when there is cause to evaluate but you cannot force all people to submit to evaluations without cause in order to exercise a constitutionally protect right. If we allowed this we could allow psychological evaluations for journalists before they report the news.
The problem with background checks is registration. Background checks to buy a gun is one thing but keeping a data base of what we buy and where we keep our guns is unconstitutional. Furthermore there is nothing that stops people from making firearms at home.
I don't take as much issue with requiring journalists to be evaluated to ensure that they are are of sound mind as you may expect, I see them as guardians of truth and must be able to preform that role responsibly. I do think there is a distinction between exercising the right to bear arms and the right to write news. They both come with distinct responsibilities, but the consequences of irresponsibility are less dire with journalism. An irresponsible journalist can report a false story, which will then either get retracted or fact checked by other reporters. An irresonsible gun owner can kill somebody or have their gun used in a crime. An evaluation seems excessive for a situation without these sort of consequences, but I'd be willing to consider it if reporters actions became more consequential.
I understand the comparison between the two freedoms, but we do not place unlimited freedom on the press either. We have libel and slander laws to prevent them from telling falsehoods. In court, they can be compelled to reveal sources if they are pertinent to national security. Additionally, journalists can lose their platform without government intervention if they consistantly engage in irresponsible or disturbed behavoir. There is currently no non-governmental discourse against irresponsible gun owners, and there isn't a mechanism for one to be created.
I do not pretend to know all the answers, but I don't think that background checks and independant psychological evaluations are unreasonable. I'm putting emphasis on independant because, if conducted by the government, the evaluations could result in a false diagnosis in order to infringe upon one's rights, which is an obvious problem. I realize the due process implications can be great, but, I feel they are outweighed by the potential for saving lives. That's just my opinion, though.
Keeping tabs on who owns guns can also be a problem, but in the end you have to make a descision on if it outweighs the crime solving benefits. It appears you have decided it does. I'm undecided.
I wish there was another way to be proactive about gun violence, but I don't see it. Maybe you have an idea that I haven't thought of. If you do, I'd love to hear it. If not, I'll continue looking for a better option, in hopes that the problem can be solved another way.