I got very encouraging comments for my first diary about this plan and realized there are many others who think that insurance might help solve some part of the gun violence problem. I decided to write a new diary about the same issue.
My proposal to the gun control issue is:
1- Mandatory liability insurance on all firearms (not the owner but the firearm),
2- High taxes on ammo,
3- Banning ammo sales without proper insurance,
4- Buyback and/or tax rebate for surrendered guns.
I think the advantages of such a system will be:
- Responsibility; the law will require firearm owners to take responsibility for their firearms. Insurance separates responsible firearm owners from irresponsible ones.
- Control by private sector; private firms will be doing the vetting for proper acquisition and handling of firearms not the Government.
- 2nd Amendment rights will be recognized. Anyone can purchase firearms as long as they can get insured.
- Registering existing weapons; unregistered weapons can not be insured so the owners can not buy ammo for their firearms.
- Ammo control.
I believe this plan will be a lot easier to pass through Congress since it is not a tax or outright ban.
Possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill is already prohibited under the federal law. We just don't have a way of implementing the law. If we require insurance, the insurance companies will implement the law. It is practical. And those who can not get insurance will not be able to buy ammo.
Under my first diary it was argued that it might be unconstitutional. I happen to disagree. Insurance only adds social costs to the manufacturing costs to the price of a firearm. It can be argued that, if iron prices went up, the gun manufacturers can raise the price of guns without being challenged. Insurance is only adding the social costs to the actual manufacturing costs of a weapon. If the social costs go higher, price of owning a weapon will be higher; if the social costs go lower, so will the insurance. The market will decide what the fair price will be. I don't think 2nd Amendment can regulate the free market price of firearms, it only mentions the right to own one.
I think this plan, without getting into the 2nd Amendment argument, helps registering existing firearms, regulates the handling of the existing firearms and controls ammo consumption.
I believe even a lot of Republicans can get behind this law.
Please let's keep on thinking about this issue together.
