The Pulse Fallout

This past week, in the wake of yet another trigger-happy tragedy within the United States borders - and of course we’re talking about the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, where 49 people were killed and 50 more injured - the Senate filibustered an inevitably rejected attempt to pass “common sense” gun control laws.

Four proposals - a Republican proposal to update the background check system for gun purchases, which would have required states to add more information on mental health records to a national database; a Republican proposal to delay gun sales to individuals included on a government terror watch list; a Democratic proposal to expand the background check system for those buying guns to require checks at gun shows and for online purchases; and a Democratic option that sought to bar all gun sales to those individuals on the terror watch list - all failed to gain the required 60 Senate votes.

The battle over 2nd Amendment rights, and to what extent they can be adjusted - has waged for seemingly decades, but an escalation of mass shootings in recent years has led to more vocalization pushing ways to deal with the epidemic sweeping through the United States. This is not an issue going away any time soon, but we have some ideas we’d like to see put in place which we think will appease both sides of the argument, since negotiation and compromise will need to be part of the equation in our federal Legislature.

First, any individual part of an ongoing, legitimate FBI investigation should be allowed to purchase any firearms. And by “legitimate” we mean there needs to be hard proof said individual is being investigated, and the burden of proof should be on the federal government.

Second, enforce the already-existing rules for non-carry permitted handguns on military defense weapons. These weapon should only be used at a range, training facility, or private property that is safe and secure away from the public; they may only be loaded at those facilities; and when transported, the ammunition must be stored separate from the weapon itself, and the weapon should be transported in a locked container.

Third, there needs to be universal background checks and a shared national database of misdemeanor and felony crimes must be created and shared. Anyone with a conviction for an armed crime, domestic violence, murder, criminal sexual conduct, or any abuse shall be denied a permit to carry any firearm.

Finally, all firearm sales or transfers must have background checks, including family transfers.

In the grand scheme, anyone who is a law-abiding citizen and gun owner should not have any problems with the aforementioned list.

I understand if someone wants to find a way to commit an atrocity, stopping a “lone wolf” is nearly impossible. However, our government has an obligation make it as difficult as possible for this to happen. Responsible gun owners aren't the issue; the problem is irresponsible gun owners need to be reigned in. We need to stop the next Orlando from happening.