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| quote: | Originally posted by EddieZilker
Then why not check credit card records for purchases at liquor stores - rule out potential alcoholism? It's a pointless provision and sounds like an amendment thrown in by someone whose papa hit the codeine a little too hard when they were growing up. I can't stand the NRA but bullshit like this undermines the case against them. It's frivolous and impertinent. If someone has had a prescription for Tylenol 3, that should not prohibit them from owning a firearm. |
Maybe it doesn't prohibit them from obtaining a firearm, though. Or perhaps there are certain classifications of documented prescriptions that especially preclude someone from qualifying for the permit. I'm not sure on the details, obviously.
But you cannot discuss these kinds of tragedies and what ought to be done about them without discussing mental health. I'm certain the narcotics clause was appended to the prerequisites by some well-meaning legislation to keep guns out of the hands of the sick and risky. Most can agree that the public stigma on seeking help as well as the provisions to even do so for those likely most at risk of needing it (the stressed and low income, uninsured, etc.) is quite abysmal in the US, but it becomes increasingly slippery to begin addressing it, not unlike the proposition of confiscating all firearms from people. Obviously you can never eradicate mental sickness, but you also can't force people to seek help, and the most insane might not even know it's what is best for them. And what do you even do with these people? Lock them all up because they're depressed? Profile them so that you can catch them before they do something really awful? We already try that, and it largely doesn't work.
Rolling out restrictions on (legit) new gun purchases won't go far in addressing the problem, it's merely one symptom. It's favourable, but doesn't do enough. Imposing obscene taxes on ammunition, might help. Or outright placing a moratorium on the manufacturing of ammunition for some time could cause its value to spike. Not allowing fucking Wal Mart to sell bullets is getting there.
We keep fucking Sudafed off the shelves, but I can buy a box of 9mm HPs with a gift card and a self-checkout lane. Oh, but lighters get me carded!
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There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.
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