Spider Man

We all know the line from the movie, with great power comes great responsibility. What is one of the most powerful items a person can own? A firearm. I think the top three are a device connected to the internet, a car, and a firearm. Those three items give a person more options to influence others, which is what power is, than anything else they own. 

 Unless wielded as a contact weapon, very few people can directly kill someone with their phone or laptop. I do recognize there are other forms of damage, but I'm only interested in loss of life for this discussion, as it is the ultimate loss. 

How many people are killed by cars is a matter of public record and we know the contributing factors or alcohol, drugs, distraction, rage, poor vehicle control, and road conditions. Most readers of this blog have a driver's license and can still remember the process it took to require it. Younger readers needing more education and training than their older counterparts. In my case, I took a semester of driver education in high school and had to have a learners permit for at least 6 months before taking the written and driving tests for my license. My motorcycle endorsement took extra training, testing and demonstration of physical skill as well. Then I'm required by law to provide insurance against my accidental or negligent use of a vehicle. 

 Over my life I've owned greater than 60 firearms. I've used them for recreation, hunting, competition and work. The only times I have been required to demonstrate any level of proficiency and knowledge of safety has been for hunter education certificate and concealed carry permits. Items falling under NFA rules required a background check, but no demonstration of skill or knowledge. A great number of people have received training in firearms safety and knowledge through Boy Scouts, service in the Armed Forces, as part of a security or law enforcement career or from paying for professional firearms instruction. There are currently in place, proven means to deliver training to a wide number and diverse group of learners. 

 I know you can tell what I am getting at here, that there should be requirements for training, use, safety and insurance for firearms ownership commensurate with their potential for ending life. I want no changes to the Second Amendment. I want no changes to capacity or types of firearms people can buy. But I do want a higher bar set for ownership in the form of training, storage and insurance. Have your right but exercise responsibility equal to it.