# Gun registration **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 13, 2013, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-registration/647073 "2013-01-13T17:28:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ed\_anger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbce88/32.png) [@ed\_anger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ed_anger)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-registration/647073/41 "2013-01-13T19:18:48Z")
> [@emacknight](#): > > In my neighbourhood if you want to own chickens you need to go around and get signatures from your neighbours. Ditto if a restaurant wants a liquor licence. Might as well do that with guns. I should have a say if my neighbour wants a deadly weapon on the other side of the wall. I’d at least hope he’s using hollow point. Asking for safe storage of weapons is surely a terrible burden for gun owners, I understand. ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-registration/647073/42 "2013-01-13T19:20:05Z")
> [@ed\_anger](#): > > And this is a terrible thing? So you replace your outdated weapon with one that meets safety requirements. Uh? Guns themselves are remarkably safe, and their production is heavily regulated for that safety. Unlike you see on tv, guns don’t just go off, or explode. Your use of the word “replace” is exactly the point, and why gun-right advocates will fight to the death to prevent registration. It’s only a matter of time before some idiot decides we should ‘replace’ unsafe guns with safer ones. I’d really like you to try to do that with cars and see what happens. ---
**Author:** ![artemis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-registration/647073/43 "2013-01-13T19:20:54Z")
> [@ed\_anger](#): > > And this is a terrible thing? So you replace your outdated weapon with one that meets safety requirements. And who pays the cost of that? Why should I have to replace the weapon I already own when it’s perfectly safe to fire? And how will collectors be accommodated? Collectors are primarily interested in older guns, not stuff you can buy off the shelf anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![ed\_anger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbce88/32.png) [@ed\_anger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ed_anger)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-registration/647073/44 "2013-01-13T19:22:32Z")
> [@artemis](#): > > And how will collectors be accommodated? Collectors are primarily interested in older guns, not stuff you can buy off the shelf anywhere. vvv > [@ed\_anger](#): > > Someone can come up with ways to handle exceptions, just like we do with classic cars. ---
**Author:** ![artemis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-registration/647073/45 "2013-01-13T19:25:45Z")
> [@ed\_anger](#): > > Asking for safe storage of weapons is surely a terrible burden for gun owners, I understand. Depending on how “safe” is defined, it can be. Some people think that anything short of keeping the gun unloaded in a safe, with all the ammunition locked away in another safe in a separate room is unsafe. They are wrong, but you can’t get them to acknowledge it. How do we insure the storage requirement isn’t one thst’s so cumbersome it keeps the gun from being useful in an emergency? ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-registration/647073/46 "2013-01-13T19:26:02Z")
> [@ed\_anger](#): > > Asking for safe storage of weapons is surely a terrible burden for gun owners, I understand. Again, what requirements do we put on cars? Why not retroactively decide that all cars must be kept in a locked garage? Cars a hilariously easy to steal, and once stolen make committing crime a lot easier (unless the bank is on the bus route). We could save a lot of lives if we retroactively required cars to have most anti-theft features. What do you suppose is stopping us? A friend of mine growing up had a Dodge Shadow, I think it was stolen 4 times. The police mentioned that the car only had something like 4 different keys made, so if you have a key there is a 1 in 4 chance it will work with someone else’s Dodge Shadow. You’re also missing the point that if the gun is meant for home protection, it needs to be available should the situation arise. Makes as much sense as keeping your fire extinguisher locked up. They are after all, dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-registration/647073/47 "2013-01-13T19:28:52Z")
> [@ed\_anger](#): > > This is a process which can be refined, new weapons would automatically met requirements. Someone can come up with ways to handle exceptions, just like we do with classic cars. Ah yes. This is what’s affectionately known as “the gun show loop hole.” Why should classic cars be allowed on the road if they can’t pass safety and emission standards? ---
**Author:** ![ed\_anger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbce88/32.png) [@ed\_anger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ed_anger)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-registration/647073/48 "2013-01-13T19:30:20Z")
> [@emacknight](#): > > Again, what requirements do we put on cars? Why not retroactively decide that all cars must be kept in a locked garage? > > Cars a hilariously easy to steal, and once stolen make committing crime a lot easier (unless the bank is on the bus route). We could save a lot of lives if we retroactively required cars to have most anti-theft features. What do you suppose is stopping us? > > A friend of mine growing up had a Dodge Shadow, I think it was stolen 4 times. The police mentioned that the car only had something like 4 different keys made, so if you have a key there is a 1 in 4 chance it will work with someone else’s Dodge Shadow. > > You’re also missing the point that if the gun is meant for home protection, it needs to be available should the situation arise. Makes as much sense as keeping your fire extinguisher locked up. They are after all, dangerous. Cars have progressively become safer to operate, entirely due to regulations the govwrnment has passed. Talking about stealing cars is a strawman, it has nothing to do with reducing car deaths. Biometric gun safes and grips would enable quick gun access in an emergency. ---
**Author:** ![artemis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-registration/647073/49 "2013-01-13T19:31:14Z")
> [@emacknight](#): > > Oddly enough, it’s exactly the same process used by pro-life groups. Just keep making abortion more and more cumbersome and expensive. Not surprising at all. It’s how any ideological fanatics act when they can’t get what they want through a transparent process: they try instead to achieve their goal by making it just too cumbersome for most people to bother with the process. And not surprisingly, gun owners are now reacting just like pro-choice groups do. ---
**Author:** ![ed\_anger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbce88/32.png) [@ed\_anger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ed_anger)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-registration/647073/50 "2013-01-13T19:32:53Z")
> [@artemis](#): > > It’s how any ideological fanatics act when they can’t get what they want through a transparent process: ah, yes, hyperbole. ---
**Author:** ![artemis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-registration/647073/51 "2013-01-13T19:39:00Z")
> [@ed\_anger](#): > > Cars have progressively become safer to operate, entirely due to regulations the govwrnment has passed. Not entirely. Cars also wear out fairly quickly, so implementation of the new safety features is easily done in an incremental fashion. Require all new cars be built with feature X by such-and-such a date, and in about 10 years pretty much all cars on the road will have feature X. There’s no need to force car owners to trade in their cars. Guns, unlike cars, wear out very slowly. Incremental approaches won’t work. > [@](#): > > Biometric gun safes and grips would enable quick gun access in an emergency. Biometric gun safes are fine - but some people will insist that safe to rage require the guns inside those safes be unloaded as well. Biometric grips don’t work well enough yet to rely on them. ---
**Author:** ![ed\_anger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbce88/32.png) [@ed\_anger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ed_anger)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-registration/647073/52 "2013-01-13T19:41:31Z")
> [@artemis](#): > > Guns, unlike cars, wear out very slowly. Incremental approaches won’t work. again, this is a long-term approach. > [@artemis](#): > > Biometric grips don’t work well enough yet to rely on them. i’m guessing the technology will be there in the next 10 years, expecially if there’s a push for it. ---
**Author:** ![artemis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@artemis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/artemis)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-registration/647073/53 "2013-01-13T19:42:22Z")
> [@ed\_anger](#): > > ah, yes, hyperbole. Not hyperbole t all. It’s exactly how anti-abortion groups have acted over the yers, and how some anti-gun groups have acted. Some of the latter used to openly admit they were in favor of incrementally tightening gun laws with the goal of eventually achieving a complete ban. ---
**Author:** ![ed\_anger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbce88/32.png) [@ed\_anger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ed_anger)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-registration/647073/54 "2013-01-13T19:44:27Z")
> [@artemis](#): > > Not hyperbole t all. It’s exactly how anti-abortion groups have acted over the yers, and how some anti-gun groups have acted. Some of the latter used to openly admit they were in favor of incrementally tightening gun laws with the goal of eventually achieving a complete ban. painting everyone in favor of regulation as anti-gun fanatics is hyperbole. i can just as easily call all gun owners psychotic death-loving fanatics. equally unhelpful. ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-registration/647073/55 "2013-01-13T19:44:44Z")
> [@ed\_anger](#): > > Cars have progressively become safer to operate, entirely due to regulations the govwrnment has passed. No, you are very, very wrong. Cars have gotten safer because some consumers wanted safer cars, then some time later the government stepped in, but not with both feet. Government regulations has always lagged behind. But more importantly, the government hasn’t taken _unsafe_ cars off the road. You can still drive a car without an airbag, or abs, for example. It’s also a myth to think that making the car safer will make the driver safer. If you really want to make cars safe (ie prevent deaths) limit their speed to 45mph. Go on, try. > [@ed\_anger](#): > > Talking about stealing cars is a strawman, it has nothing to do with reducing car deaths. You need to look up what a strawman argument is, then try to use it correctly. Gun deaths are directly tied to stolen guns. You yourself have brought up the issue of gun thefts, including gun storage. You failed, now you’re trying to hide. Both guns and cars are used in crimes, and both may be used to kill. The fact that we can’t regulate cars in a way that prevents them used in crimes should be a pretty good predictor of how likely gun registration/regulation will be at preventing crimes. > [@ed\_anger](#): > > Biometric gun safes and grips would enable quick gun access in an emergency. Classic fail. ---
**Author:** ![ed\_anger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbce88/32.png) [@ed\_anger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ed_anger)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-registration/647073/56 "2013-01-13T19:51:54Z")
> [@emacknight](#): > > No, you are very, very wrong. Cars have gotten safer because some consumers wanted safer cars, then some time later the government stepped in, but not with both feet. Government regulations has always lagged behind. But more importantly, the government hasn’t taken _unsafe_ cars off the road. You can still drive a car without an airbag, or abs, for example. Airbags and ABS are new features, try driving a car without seatbelts or taillights. Also try reading up on the history of car safety features, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards required manufacturers to make cars with seat belts etc, it was only later that states passed laws enforcing their use (and use went up). as for the rest of your post, ad hominem attacks are a sign of failed logic. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-registration/647073/57 "2013-01-13T19:56:23Z")
ABS was first used in 1971(automotive), 1929 for aircraft. Not really that new. ---
**Author:** ![ed\_anger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbce88/32.png) [@ed\_anger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ed_anger)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-registration/647073/58 "2013-01-13T21:30:16Z")
when we get a federal gun registration law i’ll be lapping up all of your sweet, sweet tears. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-registration/647073/59 "2013-01-13T22:33:01Z")
> [@ed\_anger](#): > > This is a process which can be refined, new weapons would automatically met requirements. Someone can come up with ways to handle exceptions, just like we do with classic cars. This is good news to me because all of the guns that I own are based on designs that are 60 to 110 years old. Just like the M16, AR15, AK47 and my 1911 .45. This is what bugs me. Those that want to restrict or ban guns really don’t know anything about them. I return to my OP. How would registering legal guns, cut down on gun crime? ---
**Author:** ![ed\_anger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbce88/32.png) [@ed\_anger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ed_anger)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2013, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-registration/647073/60 "2013-01-13T22:41:16Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > How would registering legal guns, cut down on gun crime? read the thread, [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-registration/647073.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gun-registration/647073.md?page=4)