Let me be the first to suggest a common sense gun regulation that will include and accommodate all Americans. Every able bodied individual in America should be required to own a gun.
In the recent American political tradition of justifying something because that is how a European country does it, I suggest we follow the Swiss. Not only do they love their watches and chocolate, they also love their guns. They love guns so much their government picks up the tab to ensure that people own them and form militias. That’s right, government funded civilian militias are the foundation of the most peaceful of European countries.
Swiss people are given Sig’s, mostly Sig SG 550’s. Now that is an assault rifle. A real assault rifle – the fully automatic kind – not the one-shot-per-pull of the trigger semi-automatic rifles Americans own.
Officers have the Sig Sauer P-220 in .45 ACP in their homes. That ACP stands for Automatic Colt Pistol. Our American military is reduced to having the 9mm Parabellum. In an ironic twist of fate the non-warring Swiss opted for a powerful American handgun cartridge for their government sponsored civilian militia and we war loving Americans opted for a much weaker European handgun cartridge for our government sponsored military. Swiss civilians are issued stronger handguns than the American military. Mull that over for a while.
The Swiss Embrace Their Civilian Militia
The Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation article 58 states: Switzerland shall have armed forces. In principle, the armed forces shall be organized as a militia.
All Swiss men get military training except for those who have opted for an alternative civilian service. If you do neither military nor civilian service you get taxed. After getting your Swiss Army training you go home and become part of the militia for the next 10 years or so, and your gun goes with you.
Guns and Crime
I think we all know by now that crime in the United States and gun control laws have a direct correlation. Chicago, Detroit and Washington, D.C. are all gun control cities where you are more likely to get killed than in either of our theaters of war.
Kennesaw, Georgia requires gun ownership. In 2007, the city was selected by Family Circle magazine as one of the nation’s “10 best towns for families.”
In 1982 the Municipal Code of Kennesaw, Georgia was changed to state:
(a) In order to provide for the emergency management of the city, and further in order to provide for and protect the safety, security and general welfare of the city and its inhabitants, every head of household residing in the city limits is required to maintain a firearm, together with ammunition therefore.
(b) Exempt from the effect of this section are those heads of households who suffer a physical or mental disability which would prohibit them from using such a firearm. Further exempt from the effect of this section are those heads of households who are paupers or who conscientiously oppose maintaining firearms as a result of beliefs or religious doctrine, or persons convicted of a felony.
Guess what happened after the ordinance was passed. Crime dropped. Much to the displeasement of anti-gun groups that promised the people would suddenly become drunk with blood lust and shoot each other. It never happened. Peace broke out and civility was waged among the people.
The Common Sense Solution – Amend the Constitution
The last time America amended the Constitution was in 1992. Who knew eh? Here is the gutsy and bold addition to our most precious of founding documents:
No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.
I think it has something to do with Congress giving Congress a raise. It took 202 years to get it passed. Amazing.
Our 28th Amendment shall be:
In order to provide for the security of the individual, state and general wellbeing of the country, all able bodied individuals shall be required to own one modern firearm and a minimum of ten rounds of associated ammunition.
Individuals are required to receive training in marksmanship and operation of firearms. Military and law enforcement personnel shall be exempt from training if they have satisfactorily completed firearms training while in their course of their service.
Exceptions shall be made for those adjudicated mentally ill, convicted of a crime of domestic violence, a felony, or have been separated from the military with a Dishonorable Discharge.
Individuals that are fundamentally opposed to owning a firearm shall be taxed and each year shall register with the government as firearms objectors until age 62 or until proven by a medical doctor to be unable to operate a firearm.
If an individual is unable to purchase a firearm one shall be provided by the Federal Government.
Next Steps
We need to get this up as a petition to the White House. Then we will need 100,000 signatures. From there we enthusiastically encourage our Congresspersons, Senators and Governors to move this legislation forward.
I’d be honored to have it referred to as the Piccione Gun Safety Amendment but my name is hard to pronounce.
Let’s just call it Project Amendment 28 and make this the 28th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
It makes common sense to adopt this reasonable approach to securing our country and accommodate those that choose not to do their fair share. Common sense and fair share – principles we can all embrace.
Update 6:32 PM EST.
If you agree join us on Facebook – click here https://www.facebook.com/ProjectAmendment28AmendTheConstitution – I’m known to give guns away…
Update 12:54 PM – Jan 18, 2013
Someone has started the petition. Only 99,997 signatures to go
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/project-amendment-28-require-firearms-ownership/swf6msdd
