The US basically does have no legal full-auto firearms. The only legal ones were made and transferred to non-government ownership pre-1986. Any full-auto weapons made after then are restricted to government use. Furthermore, in the US, you have to have a background check before you buy a gun from a store, and most states require licensing to carry a firearm concealed. Those sorts of things aren't what people in the US mean when they think of gun control. The debate is always over "should anyone be able to have this type of firearm", not so much training/licensing.

I disagree. Gun control laws are not always you can't have a gun.

 

It could mean you need to complete courses, safety courses, firearm etiquettes courses, background checks.. (Like Canada for say)

 

What you just explained is abolition. Most countries like Canada and many many others have population's that have a large proportion of the citizenry that agree, "no one needs a fully automatic rifle". To many Americans this Draconian, to  very few Canadians it is. (As an example)

 

Different mindset. 

 

But to call gun control laws "you can't have guns even though you have never broken the law and are mentally stable" is an overshoot at the least. Anyone in Canada could eventually get a firearm you simply need to work for it, prove you are worthy. And no its not expensive. 

 

I'm not saying gun control laws work or not. But I'll tell you one thing, when my mom heads to a domestic in rural Canada and USED to be able to do a simple check on the firearms registry whether or not they had firearms it made her job a lot easier and safer. (We removed our gun registry). 

 

The idea to me that an American citizen could walk into a store and by a firearm without providing proof of capability is astounding to me. Would you be able to buy a car a drive it without a license? Or without insurance, I think not. I hope you catch my drift. EDIT: I realize not all states are like this..

 

EDIT PART TWO: Before everyone gets hot headed, remember that our life experience, how we were raised where we were raised, who we are plays a major role in our opinions. Don't lose sleep over someone else's opinions. 

 

The mandatory background checks is a federal thing, true in all states. Any sale from a store needs a background check. c13 would know more about this (he works/worked in a gun store), but you can't go into a store and just plop down cash for a gun.

Agree with your edit part 2.

The idea to me that an American citizen could walk into a store and by a firearm without providing proof of capability is astounding to me. Would you be able to buy a car a drive it without a license? Or without insurance, I think not. I hope you catch my drift. EDIT: I realize not all states are like this..

That is absolutely false. As I type this from my work (a gun store), we would be committing a felony if we sold anyone a gun without them filling out a 4473 form and us calling the information in to the NICS service. I would suggest looking it up, and also taking into account we need to use a current state issued ID to verify information. That's not just my state, which is extremely pro gun, but federal law.

 

EDIT: I forgot to mention the one exemption to this when purchasing a gun from a gun store, that if some one has a valid concealed carry license (because they get a background check before being given one), they have to fill out the paperwork, but it is not called in.

That is absolutely false. As I type this from my work (a gun store), we would be committing a felony if we sold anyone a gun without them filling out a 4473 form and us calling the information in to the NICS service. I would suggest looking it up, and also taking into account we need to use a current state issued ID to verify information. That's not just my state, which is extremely pro gun, but federal law.

 

I retract my statement then, I had always been under the impression that in some states it was possible with a simple drivers license to buy a gun.. I am extremely happy to hear otherwise though, sorry for spreading false information. 

 

As a gun owner myself, (and assuming you are as well since you work at a gun store), gun safety is always paramount to me. Glad there are precautions set in place. 

Edited January 4, 201412 yr by captaincanada