@Jazzhead I raise my cup in your general direction for the fortitude you've shown by almost singlehandedly defending your position. I know it's taken you time and it's not always easy.
Could you please take a moment to explain how the "license and registration" that you've talked about earlier leads to the owner being "legally responsible for the harm caused by the dangerous implements you choose to own" on a physical, practical basis. I fill out a form, what's on it? Where does that info go, a govt database? You pull a projectile from a body, how do you trace it back to the purchaser? Is the purchaser the perp? How do you know? If the owner's not the perp, what's the liability? What protections are in the legislation that you admire that keep whatever data you collect from being used for confiscation or punitive taxation?
Devil's in the details. How does that work?
Thanks, Mildrew. As you point out, I've staked out a position - a Second Amendment supporter who nevertheless advocates licensure and registration - that is profoundly unpopular here. I can't answer every post, so please accept my apologies for missing your earlier inquiry.
I start from what I believe is the reasonable position that, presumptively, the owner of an inherently dangerous implement is responsible for its use. The gunowner is in the best position to make sure the gun is used safely and lawfully. As noted in my recent post above, laws differ regarding the liability of a motor vehicle owner regarding mayhem caused by others, but those laws can be seen as a basic framework regarding when the owner's liability is reasonable and when it is not.
To me, the primary value of registration of firearms is to encourage gunowners to always acquire and relinquish their guns in documented transactions. When a gun is sold, a record of the registration changing hands is created. When a gun is disposed of, a record of ownership being abandoned is created. When a gun is stolen, it is promptly reported to the police, so that the owner can be relieved of liability.
Registration creates a means of assigning a gun to a specific individual who is responsible for it. That encourages safe practices, and discourages underground transactions. The purpose of registration is NOT confiscation - and that's where the protection of the Constitution and the rule of law comes in to protect the gun owner - like any lawful property owner - from arbitrary, illegal action by government.
I keep making the point that if laws requiring registration are enacted, they will come not from a tyranny, but from the community. Laws are enacted by the peoples' elected representatives, and citizens are protected against abuse by the rule of law.