So I did some research about the gun culture, laws, and procedures in the USA. I talked to some of my more educated friends on the matter, and went online for some more research. I don't claim to know everything, but I have learned enough to understand that my ideas in my diary "Gun Control Isn't Enough" won't work. I caught a ton of flak for giving idealistic suggestions on how to end the insanely high gun crime in America. I'll try to soothe over some offended voices by offering changes to the three new laws I suggested, to better fit reality.
1. Instead of an absolute weapons ban, follow the Chinese gun law to the letter:
I found out that China doesn;t completely ban guns. Instead, they are strictly controlled. Hunters must apply for a hunting permit, and then have to pass a handling test to own a rifle or shotgun. Rifles and shotguns can only be stored on designated pastoral or hunting grounds, not in cities or suburbs. This idea should be applicable to America, as it would still let hunters hunt (I am morally opposed to any killing at all, but I quickly learned that too many people eat meat, and that factory farms are not a better alternative to hunting.) This system would also keep all assault rifles and handguns out of the hands of the public. Also in China, air guns are also heavily regulated, and nobody may own more than one. Only airsoft guns which don't look real and are weak enough to be counted as toys are legal. Look at China's incredibly low murder rate of 1.0 per 100,000 (a fifth that of the USA) and you'll see that this law works.
People may argue that there are too many assault rifles and handguns floating around,and that most hunters won't be willing to undergo such strict regulation. However, this is where the federal government comes in. They can launch a mandatory buyback program, and then send the Army in to clear the most gun filled areas, such as Montana and Texas. The military has tanks, planes, and nuclear bombs. The gun nuts who would resist the government have only rifles, and will probably be outnumbered. If we were to enact Chinese style gun legislation tomorrow, there might indeed be a civil war, but a few strategic bombings would eventually lead to all registration of hunting guns, and would take all illegal guns off the streets, while still allowing hunters to hunt.
2. Follow UK law on self defense to the letter
I mistakenly said that the UK bans self defense. However, I need to clarify. The UK does indeed allow citizens to act in self defense, allowing killing if necessary (which I personally believe it never is.) However, citizens may not carry any weapons on their body for the express purpose of self defense. Tasers, pepper spray, etc. are still illegal. Also, the courts heavily examine the self defense claim, instead of simply letting a possible vigilante waltz away with murder, like George Zimmerman did. Given that the UK's murder rate, at 1.2 per 100,000, is still almost five times lower than that of the US, this law seems to work very well.
We could slowly phase this law into effect, requiring that all self defense cases go to court. We then set up special courts to deal with "self defense" cases, where the jury must include at least six members of the gender and race of the person who was at the receiving end of the "self defense." Police departments would also get immense powers to find the truth in self defense cases, including being able to enter the home of the defendant without a warrant, and to hold the defendant without bail. If self defense was truly an issue, the jury will find him innocent, but I guarantee that most "self defense" cases will still be nothing but pure vigilantism.
3. I stand corrected, we need MORE police, but with some criteria
Indeed, instead of trying to be a hero and hit a burglar with a baseball bat, a responsible homeowner should call the police, since the police are trained in conflict escalation and action. I admit that I let the recent case of Cecily McMillan get to me while I declared that police departments need to be shrunk. No, they don't, I now understand. We need strong police departments to disarm gun nuts and to prevent a would be vigilante from taking matters into his own hands. But the police must be understanding of all members of the community, especially minorities often targeted in programs such as NY's stop and frisk. At least half of each police department must be of a minority race, half must be female, and no more than forty percent may be white anglo saxon protestants. By having police departments which match the ethnic makeup of the country, incidents of race profiling and police brutality will decrease greatly.