First, 20 million guns doesn't mean 20 million gun owners. Some own multiple AR-15's apparently. Only 6% of American adults own them, more like 15 million and that's just 1-5 or 6 of gun owners.... and no nothing about that makes them a "right" to own.cradleandshoot wrote: ↑Tue Sep 03, 2024 5:04 pmWell 20 million AR 15 owners suggests to me they have a right to own and use their weapons. How does your " compromise " define " where they can be stored and where they can be used? If your " compromise " involves government run and regulated firing ranges that poses a deal breaker. How many ranges would be needed? How many people to staff them? How much will it cost? Where do you find the land? You could be talking about hundreds or thousands of range facilities nationwide. The devil is always in the details, it ain't never gonna happen but keep on advocating.MDlaxfan76 wrote: ↑Tue Sep 03, 2024 9:58 amI wouldn't be surprised if a higher percentage of AR-15 owners think the 2nd Amendment means they have a right to own, carry, and use their AR-15 wherever and whenever they like, but that may be my bias about what sorts of people, on average, own such weapons in the first place. Many own multiple AR-15's apparently. Only 6% of Americans own one or more AR-15s, about 1-5 or 1-6 of gun owners.cradleandshoot wrote: ↑Mon Sep 02, 2024 4:51 pmI don't agree that I'm in a minority about this issue. There are around 20 million AR 15 style weapons owned in America. If you want to take a poll of all of those owners I'm fairly certain the vast majority of them would disagree with what you propose. There is a difference between expressing your opinion and insisting that nobody should have a right to own them because you don't like them. Your opinion doesn't supercede the 2nd amendment as written in the constitution.MDlaxfan76 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 02, 2024 2:37 pmNot sure why you choose to be so exercised about this topic.cradleandshoot wrote: ↑Sun Sep 01, 2024 2:39 pmWhat weapon someone decides on for home protection is none of your damn business. Pretty arrogant of you to want to decide that for them. The 2nd amendment gives them the right to choose whatever weapon works best for them. This may come as a shock to you but responsible, law abiding, tax paying Americans really don't need your input.MDlaxfan76 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 01, 2024 2:18 pmSorry, no one needs an AR-15 for home defense and yes any gun ownership should require adequate training on handling the specific weapon as well as responsible ownership.cradleandshoot wrote: ↑Sun Sep 01, 2024 12:50 pm It becomes problematic when someone wants to dictate to another person what type of weapon they should be allowed to have for home defense. IMO an AR-15 type will get the job done. It would never be my first choice because the effective lethal range is farther than most people can see. An Ithaca deer slayer 12 gauge pump with rifled slugs is an extremely effective home defense weapon. If you have never fired a 12 gauge rifled slug your in for an eye opening experience indeed. The bottom line, much to MD lax fans chagrin, is the weapon you have trained with and are comfortable using is the correct weapon for your needs. My wife at 5 foot six and 130 pounds would be a danger to herself with a 12 gauge in her hands. I made my choice and I put a lot of thought into it.
You are in the minority of Americans, indeed the minority of gun owners, who interpret the 2nd Amendment that way.
And I think we all have a right to voice our political views. No?
But I said gun owners, and there's lots of polling showing that a majority of gun owners are in favor of common sense gun regulations and don't agree with an absolute right to own any weapon they want.
And gun owners only represent about a third of all American adults.
The two thirds who don't skew heavily in favor of regulating guns. Some even want no gun ownership (other end of extreme).
Again, my compromise position didn't preclude all individual ownership, it just limits where they can be stored and where they can be used. It emphasizes public safety priorities with regulated usage of weapons specifically designed for warfare.
If you bothered to read my suggestion, you'd know that I'm saying government regulated (like any other industry is regulated) with private enterprise filling the market demand. Private individuals could own and store their guns there and use them there or simply rent them for an hour or two plus range time. I'm suggesting a generous buyback program for those who wish to give them up and simply rent when they want to practice or compete, etc.
I didn't expand on this but there could also be registered and regulated couriers for these weapons between ranges as needed, not the back of a pick up truck...nothing against pick up trucks or their drivers, but these are weapons of war.