These folks, my relatives, friends and neighbors) are equal American participants in our republic’s politics. And we’ve got to learn to negotiate with them the way Reagan did, by bringing people on board, not by trying to kick them off the train.
@aligncare No, first thing y'all have to do is to quit trying this crap at the federal level. If you want to impose limits in your state or municipality (no doubt like you already have) then knock yourself out. But don't think your priorities are equally shared across the country, even if there are more people in metro areas. Your ways don't work around here.
NOBODY has trigger locks, and few, other than collectors, have gun safes. And most guns not in storage are loaded and ready to go (My big iron is clean and unloaded and stored until hunting season). There has been a loaded 45 above my right hand on my headboard through my whole life, to include when children were in the house, as well as a loaded short shotgun hanging above the exterior door, and a long pump shotgun inside the closet. When you need em, you need em now.
And with a 30/30 and a .357mag that live in the truck, and all the rest I have laying around, I have never had a gun stolen, with the exception of 2 shotguns my former gunsmith ran off with when he split town, And a 45 colt that got confiscated by the cops after my involvement in a fist fight over in Spokane Wa.
Guns are just part of every day life out here, and that CANNOT change.
Your negotiations are meant to take place in your state, and not at the federal level. This country is way, way too big and diverse to dictate a one-size-fits-all solution. As long as you reject the natural federalism that is supposed to be the norm, there can be no negotiations. What y'all want doesn't work where you are, so why the hell do you think it will work here? When you have something that provably works, then other states may well adopt it. That is how this is supposed to be.
Predictably your federal dictates and impositions will be summarily ignored by most rural states, and that is the least damaging outcome. Certainly the Rockies will give you the finger. At the worst, civil war - and y'all are pushing for it HARD.
Mind your own business and write your idiotic laws for yourself. Leave me and mine out of it.
I am imposing nothing on you. It would be right neighborly if you did the same.