Access to guns should be restricted

 

Access to guns should be restricted, but not abolished.

According to the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA), a person currently doesn’t need to have a permit to buy a rifle, shotgun or handgun.

I think this is dangerous because people, as a general rule, are unpredictable and guns are obviously dangerous weapons.

It is currently illegal in Kansas to knowingly sell firearms to people who have been convicted of certain felonies, people who abuse controlled substances, and people who are habitually drunk.

Unfortunately, it can be hard to tell whether or not someone fits under any of those categories. Someone who is habitually drunk may not be inebriated at the time of purchase of a gun. Similarly, there’s not a way to tell if someone was a convicted felon.

Needing a permit to buy guns would allow the state to filter out people who could be irresponsible with guns, such as people who have substance abuse problems or people who have used guns irresponsibly in the past.

Although I think guns should be restricted, the restrictions should be loose. People still need to be able to defend themselves when absolutely necessary, and they should be able to do things they enjoy, such as going hunting.

Something as potentially dangerous as being in control of a gun should be a privilege, not an entitlement.

People who are responsible should be able to have all the access to guns they want, so long as they don’t do anything to nullify the privilege they have been given.

My only concern is making guns available to everyone, including people who are potentially dangerous and irresponsible.