I wrote this because I think some gun rights advocates are confused about what gun control really means. Democrats DO NOT want to "take away your guns". Gun control does not mean taking away your Second Amendment. You'll still have the right to bear arms, we just need to be more careful about who can get their hands on such a lethal item. We're not saying that these measures will get rid of murders and mass shootings in the U.S., but at least it's a start to lower the death toll. It's actually kind of ridiculous how easy it is to buy a gun.
Before I start the list of things that are harder to get than guns, here are a few interesting facts:
1. Gun stores have to run background checks before they sell a gun, but if any check takes more than 3 days, the sale can proceed. This means that some things (like criminal records) can be totally overlooked.
2. At gun shows, federally licensed dealers must follow regulations, but private collectors don't, meaning they don't need to complete a background check or demand an ID before they sell a gun.
3. Sales of guns between private citizens is perfectly legal and completely unregulated.
4. The man (I refuse to use his name) that murdered 9 at a Charleston church on June 15 this year passed his background check even though he had a record of drug possession and trespassing (you can fail a background check on the basis of drug addiction).
5. There are currently no federal laws prohibiting large-capacity ammo magazines (this increases how quickly someone can kill a large crowd), semi-automatic assault rifles (like the one the Orlando shooter use to kill 49 and wound 53 at Pulse nightclub), or military-grade rifles.
6. There is no waiting period to purchase a gun. A background check for this usually takes a few minutes on the computer. This means that an angry person can buy a gun before they have time to cool down. This was the case on August 19 of the Arizona man that tweeted that he needed to move out before he killed his roommates. His next tweet was about how easy it is to buy a gun. Then one of his roommates was found murdered.
15 Things That Are Harder Than Buying a Gun
1. Getting a Driver's License
In order to get a driver's license in the U.S., you have to prove your identity, take vision and written tests, have your photo taken, spend a few weeks or months using a learner's permit and logging your hours (depending on the state), pass a driving test, and in some states spend about 6 months using something called your "intermediate license" before you can finally get the full one.
2. Getting a Passport
To get this you need to prove your citizenship, fill out paperwork, have your photo taken, and usually wait about 6 weeks for it to process.
3. Buying Cold Medicine
Some over-the-counter meds require a valid photo ID proving you are 18 years or older and have limits on how much of it you can buy in a month (because of an ingredient that can be used to make meth).
4. Finalizing a Divorce
In some states it can take up to 6 months before you're officially through with your ex.
5. Getting an Abortion
Laws for this vary state by state, but some require that you get an ultrasound, go through in-person counseling, and wait 24 hours before you can go through with the procedure.
6. Getting Married
Some states, like Florida, require either an hours-long premarital class or a 3 day waiting period. There is also a marriage license application fee that usually ranges from $20 - $60.
7. Adopting a Pet
To bring home that shelter puppy you've had your eyes on, you usually have to be at least 21 (18 to get a gun), show your ID, provide references, a sometimes have a home check from the pet adoption agency.
8. Selling Lemonade
Even if you're an 8 year old in a residential area, in some states you need to get a food permit and a business license before you can open your little lemonade stand in front of your house.
9. Cutting Hair
Yes, your favorite stylist at the salon needed to get a permit and about 2 years of schooling (usually) before she started cutting your hair.
10. Getting Birth Control
Listen up boys, because all you have to do on your end is go to the corner store and buy a box of condoms. For a woman to get on birth control, she has to make a gyno appointment (which can take up to several weeks to get in), fill out paperwork, tell the doctor why she wants it, pay a co-pay, then go fill her prescription.
11. Registering to Vote
Take note if you want to give your say in this upcoming presidential election, because the clock is ticking to get registered. Some states require an ID and it can take 5-7 weeks for your paperwork to be finalized.
12. Buying Alcohol
You have to be 21 and show a valid photo ID.
13. Donating Blood
You have to show your ID, weigh at least 110 pounds, have zero history of organ failure, no drug use, can't be someone that exchanged sex for money, can't have traveled to certain countries, if you had cancer you have to wait a year after being cancer-free, wait 6 weeks after you've given birth, wait 48 hours - 4 weeks depending on what type of vaccine or immunization shot you've gotten recently, wait 1 month or be permanently deferred after taking certain meds, and wait 6 months after having angina, a heart attack, or heart surgery. And to top it off with the most controversial part, you can't be a gay man.
14. Changing Your Name
Whether you're taking your spouse's name or you're like Chad Ochocinco and just want to change your name to an incorrectly-translated Spanish version of your football number, there's a lot you have to do before it's official: create a petition and an "order to show cause for change of name", show your social security card, birth certificate & photo ID, get your documents notarized (some states), pay a fee that averages $100 - $200 (California's is $435), attend a court hearing, and tell a bunch of people about it: government agencies, work, banks, lawyers, post offices, your school, etc. Some of these places require a written notice and documentation of it.
15. Buying a Car
To get a car loan, you have to have a credit score above 680 or else you either have to get a cosigner or it's just not happening. You also have to show a proof of steady income, proof of insurance, a photo ID, and a proof of residence.
After all that, can you believe that you can literally walk into a gun show, fork over the money, and walk out with a semi-automatic assault rifle without having to show ID or do anything else?
I hope we can all agree that it should be harder to buy something that can kill a lot of people in a very short amount of time than it is to do at least a few of the things on this list?!
