By Anne Bordonaro
As a new legislative session opens, I would like to offer a possible way forward on gun safety that bypasses the dead-end gun rights versus gun control arguments. Building on Nicholas Kristof’s suggestion (New York Times, 10/3/15) that we approach gun safety as a public health issue, I propose that our legislators introduce legislation that would include safety measures such as the following:
1. Mandatory gun safety locks for all guns sold or used in Vermont. The gun owner would set the gun to recognize his/her fingerprint or PIN. Such locks would allow the gun only to be used by its owner.
2. Mandatory liability insurance such as that required for cars. Just as with automobile insurance rates, rates for such insurance would be based on actuarial data related to rates of gun deaths and injuries caused by users of different ages and genders, as well as by gun type. Liability insurance would provide restitution for someone injured or killed by the insured weapon. The cost of such insurance would likely deter owners from possessing the types of weapons frequently used in deadly crimes.
3. Restrictions on the possession of guns of any type by individuals who have been found guilty of violent offences, as well as those under restraining orders related to domestic violence. Again this is similar to automobile safety where individuals who fail to demonstrate their ability to responsibly operate a motor vehicle lose their right to drive. A process could be developed by which such individuals could regain their right to possess guns but only after proof of rehabilitation (such as successful completion of an anger management program).
4. Mandatory stamping of all ammunition sold in Vermont so it can be traced back to its seller.
5. Requirements that the public health and public safety agencies collaborate to track gun deaths and injuries and develop a process for evaluating the effectiveness of gun safety measures.
Rather than continuing to talk past each other, I believe we can reach common ground if we treat guns – like cars – as potential deadly weapons. We will never be able to entirely prevent gun violence, especially mass shootings, just as we cannot prevent all car accidents. However, we can do much more to reduce the likelihood that guns end up in the hands of children or angry or depressed individuals, which are the causes of most gun deaths and injuries. Let’s move forward with common sense!
Bordonaro lives in Waitsfield.
