In 2023, the Texas legislature advanced a bill out of committee to raise assault rifle age to 21, but it didn’t pass

[Multicolored Lemur]

In surprise move, Texas lawmakers advance gun-control bill to raise age to buy assault-style weapons

Democrats still likely lack the votes to pass any of the restrictions.

www.cbsnews.com

May 2023 —

“ . . voted a bill out of committee that would raise the legal age to buy an assault-style weapon to 21, as well as prohibit firearm sales to those who are intoxicated or who have a protective order against them. Two Republicans joined all the Democrats on the committee to support the bill in an 8-5 vote. Families from Uvalde, who have fiercely advocated for the bill, burst into applause after the vote. . ”

————————————

I wish this didn’t line up so much along party lines, that we need to have 2 Republicans break ranks. I mean, I wish our two major parties still had their liberal and conservative wings.

And a rifle is a rifle is a rifle—

Kind of.

The trigger and the speed at which you can multi-fire makes a difference. And, so does the marketing used by gun manufacturers.

Not everyone has the maturity to own a weapon for self-defense.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

In surprise move, Texas lawmakers advance gun-control bill to raise age to buy assault-style weapons

Democrats still likely lack the votes to pass any of the restrictions.

www.cbsnews.com

. . . [ Texas Governor Greg] Abbott said, “We are working to address the anger and violence by going to its root cause, which is addressing the mental health problems behind it.”

————

I think he’s going on to talk about civil commitment and coercive treatment. And use glaring cases in which the family wants the mentally ill person to stick with treatment, but the person just refuses to take his or her medication.

I want the doctor to be willing to tinker with the medication.

===============

Look, I’m not a great fan of psychiatrists and psychologists, often because they’re “one trick ponies” who really latch onto some pet theory.

I’ve read that 25% of us will struggle with depression or anxiety at some point in our life that we’d benefit from medication.

And that something like Zoloft for depression takes 4 to 8 weeks to start to work. That’s a long time! And everyone’s biochem is a little different, so it might not work at all. But if you move laterally, a different anti-depressant might.

The other important thing, I’ve read —

Don’t go cold turkey.

Especially for a medication for bipolar. Don’t quit abruptly. If you’re running low and there are insurance delays, go to halfies and cut the pills in half.

And taking a bit of a jump,

I also conclude,

That it might often be better to see a “regular” doctor like an internist or family practitioner who understands that medication for mental health issues is trial and error in a respectful sense.

Rather than a psychiatrist who is proud of how intelligent he or she is.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

. . voted a bill out of committee that would raise the legal age to buy an assault-style weapon to 21

When the article said "voted out", I thought that meant throw out the bill but now I realize that it means to advance it to have it voted on. Realized that from this part of the article...

Monday marked the last day the measure could be advanced out of the committee for a floor vote before the legislative session ends on May 29.

Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/te...ault-weapons-raise-the-age-state-legislature/

I'm really shocked that Gov. Abbott would reject the bill because he wants to go to the "root" problem. I also believe mental health is a major reason behind mass shootings, but that doesn't mean it's the only problem or that other things can't be done to mitigate the problem in the meanwhile. I suspect if we probe deeper, then we'd also see that a root problem for not fixing are gun laws is because of politics.

Personally, I'll won't support banning guns entirely which is what some on the Democrat side want, but I also would want much stricter gun laws in terms of having extensive/periodic background checks for those who want to own a gun. In some states, its easier to purchase an assault rifle than it is a handgun (the handgun usually has a waiting period even after purchase).

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

the handgun usually has a waiting period even after purchase

I’m not in favor of a waiting period. Because if something happens in a person’s neighborhood or to someone they know, I want them to be able to buy a weapon for self-defense that very day.

I am in favor of limiting clip size. I think a handgun like a glock often has a 12-round or 15-round clip. It’s actually been years since I’ve been to the range.

Now, people are fabulously good at coming up with exceptions.

And so, if I say a rifle with a 30-round clip is more of an offensive than a defensive weapon, people are coming up with exceptions almost before I’m done typing the sentence!

All the same … I think limiting clip size might be a worthwhile compromise.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

First Amendment

www.law.cornell.edu

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; . . . “

—————-

This is another compromise we could make. Since a mass shooter often wants some kind of misplaced glory, make it illegal to mention his or her name. Impose a fine of 10% of annual revenue on the media company each time they mention the person’s on the air.

Not 10% of net profit.

But 10% of revenue which means all the money the company brings in through the door. They do it two or three times, they might be facing bankruptcy. And that’d be part of the point.

Unconstitutional?

Well, the First Amendment has always had exceptions. And “compelling interest” I think has been the standard. And reducing the number of mass shootings seems like a compelling interest to me and might just meet that standard.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

And so, if I say a rifle with a 30-round clip is more of an offensive than a defensive weapon, people are coming up with exceptions almost before I’m done typing the sentence!

I think states can make so much revenue from this. If people want a gun real bad then make it so that there are levels and rewards for each level. With the basic background check you just get a basic handgun with no large capacity clips. Same goes for rifles. But if you want more, then that comes with more background checks, training, etc. And more, you need even more checks and fees.

I know in some states that you can't get a silencer or suppressor unless you go through extra background checks with the ATF. Plus, there is a boat load of forms to fill out, plenty of fees, and i think the suppressor has to be registered, as well.

 

[AgnosticBoy]

I’m not in favor of a waiting period. Because if something happens in a person’s neighborhood or to someone they know, I want them to be able to buy a weapon for self-defense that very day.

Interestingly, a gun shop employee told me an opposite scenario of someone wanting to get the gun immediately so they can use it to commit a crime. Say for instance, someone without a record is planning to kill his wife. The husband might want that gun the same day and use it. But making the husband wait a few days might diffuse the situation.

I guess it can go both ways.

 

[Scooter]

When I went to high school we had a JROTC program. Part of that program included a rifle team. Those on the rifle team shot .22 rifles in the school armory. Many students brought guns to school in the back window of their trucks. One student I knew brought a shotgun to his shop class for refurbishment. The problem isn’t guns. It’s a people problem. Kids are not receiving adequate raising. Too many families are being run by single parents. And I’ll go ahead and say this, people today do not live by Christian values.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

Same goes for rifles. But if you want more, then that comes with more background checks, training, etc.

I like making it steps, kind of like a truck driver needs to pass a more difficult test than a car driver.

I’m not in favor of trying to make it a major source of tax money, and let me please explain. Sales tax and income tax are closely linked to ability to pay. Property tax isn’t. So if you don’t make exceptions for seniors and for persons with disabilities, you really might be driving them out of their home. But then again, some seniors and persons with disability are doing just fine, thank you very much.

Alright, I conclude that low-income persons have the same right to protect themselves, provided no record of addiction, etc. And they shouldn’t have flat-fee taxes standing in their way, which can end up being the most regressive of all taxes.

In a similar way, I think the price of a driver’s license should be kept low. But not zero, because it shows serious of purpose.

 

[Multicolored Lemur]

I’m not in favor of a waiting period. Because if something happens in a person’s neighborhood or to someone they know, I want them to be able to buy a weapon for self-defense that very day.

Interestingly, a gun shop employee told me an opposite scenario of someone wanting to get the gun immediately so they can use it to commit a crime. Say for instance, someone without a record is planning to kill his wife. The husband might want that gun the same day and use it. But making the husband wait a few days might diffuse the situation.

I could maybe agree with a 3 day waiting period.