A different approach to reining in guns

States should have the right to make the purchaser of guns buy insurance for each gun.
The insurance actuaries will devise a cost structure based on caliber, and how many shots the gun is capable of. You want a hunting rifle, that's one price. You want a semi-automatic that's another. The government could then make it against the law to own any new gun without insurance - and you buy the insurance from the legal gun sellers. (You have to have insurance to drive a car because of its potential to do damage, why not a gun?)
No insurance and your gun can be seized and both you and the seller could face fines or jail.
Of course this will be impossible to enforce if only one or two states comply but it should be the duty of the NRA and the "States Rights"enthusiasts to ram this legislation through as they do their own. With the NRA and the insurance lobby working together, any law can be passed.

The NRA's priorities

It has become clear that the NRA, with its massive treasury devoted to keeping itself strong, has been buying votes from our representatives in Congress. It also has a lot of help from the "States Rights" advocates.

The first duty of the NRA and the "States Rights" advocates, however, should be to protect its members and its residents.

All municipalities should have the right to protect their residents without interference from NRA lobbyists. Their argument is that we have enough laws and if enforcement of those laws is what we need to protect ourselves from criminals.

The only problem with that assertion is that many people become criminals when they get their first gun. How could the gun laws on the books protect the students of Columbine or Virginia Tech or Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. What's needed are better ways to keep guns out of the hands of people unable or unwilling to use them safely and wisely.

That's what the NRA and the "States Rights" folks should be concerned about.