A Simple Solution to America’s Gun & Mass Shooting Problems

The Ingram MAC-11 (Military Armament Corporation Model 11), a defunct American small arms manufacturer, made this subcompact machine pistol developed during the 1970s. Shown here with 32-round capacity magazine, and suppressor.
Weight: 1.59 kg (3.50 lbs)
Length: 248 mm (9.76 in/20.90 in)
Barrel length: 129 mm
Cartridge: .380 ACP
Caliber: 9mm
Action: Straight Blowback
Rate of fire: 1200 /min
Muzzle velocity: 980 ft/s
Effective firing range: 50 m

There’s little debate of any significance about the problem of firearms in the hands of those who use them to commit heinous acts. This year alone, to date (as of this entry 27 August, the 239th day of 2015) there have been there have been:
248 Mass Shootings, with
313 Dead &
926 Wounded.

One only need type in ‘mass shootings’ in any search engine to find literally thousands upon thousands of news items, complete with details about this uniquely American problem. There is, however, significant and legitimate debate about how to ameliorate and stem the growing problem.

Some say no laws are needed, that LEOs (Law Enforcement Officers) need to enforce current laws. Others say outlaw guns completely. Somewhere, there is a “happy middle ground” of compromise to be found that protects our law-abiding citizens’ 2d Amendment Rights, and protects the innocent from miscreant would-be murderers and assailants.

I have a rather simple solution
to the
gun / mass shooting problem.

NFA all firearms with magazines over 7 round capacity.

The Fabrique Nationale P90 was developed in the late 1980s and has proven to be an effective and fearsome Personal Defense Weapon for various Law Enforcement and Military Agencies around the world. The P90 is famed for its unique ergonomics, caliber and ammo-feeding method and has the flexibility to be adapted for various roles.
It has a uniquely-designed bullet, which has armor-penetrating capacity, yet does not completely pass through a body, instead fragments after penetration, and disperses it’s kinetic energy in the target. Manufacturer: Fabrique Nationale
Model: P90
Calibre: 9mm
Firearm Length: 19.9inches, (50.5cm)
Barrel Length: 10.4 inches, (26.4cm)
Origin: Belgium
Materials: Metal/Wood or Metal/Plastic
Initial date of manufacture: 1986
Cartridge: FN 5.7×28mm
Action: Straight blowback, closed bolt
Rate of Fire: 900 RPM (rounds per minute)
Muzzle velocity: 715 m/s (2,350 ft/s)
Popular from 1990 to present

For those unfamiliar with the term, “NFA” refers to the National Firearm Act which was originally enacted 1934, which “imposed a tax on the making and transfer of firearms defined by the Act, as well as a special (occupational) tax on persons and entities engaged in the business of importing, manufacturing, and dealing in NFA firearms. The law also required the registration of all NFA firearms with the Secretary of the Treasury. Firearms subject to the 1934 Act included shotguns and rifles having barrels less than 18 inches in length, certain firearms described as “any other weapons,” machineguns, and firearm mufflers and silencers.”

For additional information, refer to the linked text above which directs to the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms site about the National Firearms Act.

To put it in as simple terms as possible, the NFA allows legal ownership of firearms such as those mentioned above – fully automatic, short-barrel shotguns, silencers, etc. – but ONLY after a successful background investigation by the FBI, fingerprinting & photographing.

If there is ANYTHING amiss in the thorough background investigation, the permit is denied, and the firearm CANNOT be purchased.

The FN F2000 is a gas operated, 5.56×45mm NATO “bullpup” 30-round capacity, assault rifle with rotating bolt designed by (Fabrique Nationale) FN Herstal in Belgium, and has been in production since 2001. This firearm is also carried by the United States Secret Service to protect the President.

If the background investigation is successful, the firearm may be purchased, along with a $200 tax paid per item purchased.

The firearm may NOT be transferred, sold, or given away WITHOUT FIRST notifying the BATF, and then, may ONLY be sold, or transferred to another similar individual whom has had a similarly successful background investigation, and whom must also pay the tax.

In short, NFA firearm owners are the “cleanest of the clean,” and are legally upstanding, law-abiding citizens.

If you want more details, here’s an additional link for your perusal. There’s plenty of information presented in a well-organized and cohesive manner:
NFA Q&A – https://www.atf.gov/qa-category/national-firearms-act-nfa

And now, for some opining.

The Avtomat Kalashnikova rifle of 1947, better known as the “AK-47”, is perhaps the most easily recognizable weapon in the history of firearms. The infamy of the AK-47 is due to several factors; it is the most extensively produced firearm of all time, it is the platform from which many other successful weapon patterns have been based, and its ever-growing association with both military and radical groups world-wide.
This legendary rifle was invented during the mid-1940s by Mikhail Kalashnikov, a then Russian tank-mechanic. The design of the AK-47 is a hybrid of successful rifle technologies that were modified and improved for use in the Russian military. The AK-47 is a prime example of soundly fusing together modern, superior mechanisms with previously identified solutions for common problems. Over time, the rifle has come to be known for its powerful round (7.62×39 mm), its simplicity of operation/maintenance, and unsurpassed reliability even in the most adverse conditions. These characteristics, as well as a considerable amount of accessories, greatly attributes to the vast amount of AK-47s deployed by both so-called “good-guys” and “bad-guys.”
While it is still being produced in various countries (in a stunning amount of variations), it is estimated that the total number of AK-47s ever produced is well over 90 million units.

I am NOT opposed to firearms, or their private ownership.

I AM opposed to criminals & idiots owning firearms, which also includes almost every incidence of stupidity we read or hear about in any news report of mass killing, including some Stupid Owners who were unfortunately killed or wounded by their own stupidity, such as young children who discharged a firearm in a mother’s purse killing her in a Wal-Mart, a man who shot off his penis in a Wal-Mart, a young child that shot & killed it’s father at home, etc. In such cases, those tragedies could have been PREVENTED by PROPER & RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP practices.

To analogize, we do not allow anyone to drive whom has not demonstrated a minimum level of competency and/or proficiency operating a motor vehicle (either private automobile, or “Big Truck” with a Commercial Driver License), and similarly demonstrated a level of understanding and comprehension of the laws governing operation of the same.

So why should we, in almost wanton, or “willy-nilly” fashion, allow just anyone to own or possess a firearm without similarly demonstrating competency and/or proficiency and understanding of the laws regulating them?

At one time, the NRA (National Rifle Association) significantly promoted gun safety. Now, while that remains a part of their agenda, it is only a very minor, and insignificant one. In fact, that first, and paramount element of responsible gun ownership is virtually hidden on their website.

In summary…

Stupid People Should NOT Have Guns