H.R.256.IH: Child Gun Safety and Gun Access Prevention Act of 2007

     The title sounds nice and despite the majority of this bill being of sound ideas it is still an anti-gun legislation. First, I'll inform you of the good ideas in this bill. Despite the anit-gun sections of this bill, it is important to know when something good is included so that when seen or inserted in other future bills we can give consideration to them. This bill incorporates that every firearm, when sold through a FFL licensed dealer, be provided with some sort of locking device, whether it be a safe or gun lock. This sounds bad but in fact is a good idea. Most would see this and worry about the price of firearms going up. Well, facts are that prices are going up despite what is included and most companies are already providing a locking devise free of charge anyway. Not to mention the fact that most of your local law enforcement agencies will provide you with a locking device free of charge as well, so there really is no excuse for this obvious safety device to be included with every firearm purchase. Then there is the idea to provide grants for gun safety courses. These courses would be enable local law enforcement agencies to provide gun safety classes for parents and their children. The government paying for you and your children to learn gun safety? Who can argue with that? Also, along the same lines, this bill will set forth mandatory gun safety classes with a certified firearms instructor in every school district. Teaching our children gun safety in the classroom has been needed for many years.

     That being said, there is still ideas introduced in this bill which would restrict your right bear arms. It requires that no person under the age of 21 be allowed the use of a handgun, ammo, assault weapon or high capacity magazines. You may temporarily transfer such devices to your child after the age of 18 for the purpose of plinking, use of employment on a ranch or farm, hunting or instruction in the safe use of such devices. How many of you learned how to shoot as a child via a .22lr pistol? If this legislation is enacted, then you will not be able to put a .22lr pistol in the hands of your little one until they are 18. Also, why would an assault weapon or high capacity magazine matter in terms of child use? I am getting tired of hearing the term assault weapon. Wouldn't going up to someone on the street and pummeling them with a shovel be considered an assault and therefore making the shovel an assault weapon? Should we then decide that a shovel cannot be in the hands of a minor because he/she COULD use it in a matter other than directed? Of course not and we should not do the same to a particular firearm because a child might use it to commit a crime. It is an absurd title given to firearms that people do not like for reasons that they look bad. But I digress. Also, there is a restriction only allowing a child to attend a gun show if they are accompanied by an adult. I remember my friends and I going to the gun shows by ourselves and there is no reason why your teenage child cannot go to a gun show without adult supervision. What are they afraid of? A child under 18 cannot purchase any firearm or ammo and a child under age 21 cannot purchase a handgun or ammo already, so why is this necessary? Are they afraid of exposing a child to darkly colored, inanimate objects? Really, any child today can look at these arms through magazines, books, movies and more. How is seeing firearms at a gun show any different? Ask your representative to vote no on this bill.

Questions? Comments? Suggestions?  Email me at billy_the_kid43@hotmail.com