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Message: <blockquote data-quote="brett636" data-source="post: 1354109" data-attributes="member: 249">Its difficult to argue for a solution to a declining "problem" as the statistics show, and its better to argue what can we do as a nation to reduce the already shrinking level of gun violence faster?  I personally see this requiring a multifaceted approach outlined below:1.  We need to help foster a greater acceptance and understanding of personal gun ownership in this country.  This starts by getting the states to more streamline their gun laws from one to another.  Honestly the states with the strictest gun laws need to relax them to the level of the least restrictive, and this will allow the residents of any state to travel with their legally owned firearms without fear of callous prosecution just because they carry an inanimate object for their personal protection.  We need to eliminate the idea of gun free zones like schools and colleges since this is where a lot of mass shootings are occurring simply because the people who carry out such tragedies knows they have little chance of resistance.  The bottom line here is the criminal element in society needs something to fear, and that is a well armed populace where they cannot tell the difference between the wolves and the sheep.  This makes the job of a criminal a much more hazardous one driving all but the most foolish into a more honest livelihood. 2.  Stricter enforcement of the gun laws remaining is a must.  Gun laws aren't always equally enforced, and sentences are far too light.  Someone who commits a real crime with a gun(that is a crime with the intent to harm others, not simply having 8 bullets in their magazine instead of the mandatory 7) needs to understand that the chances of them living to see the light of day will be slim.  This is necessary because as in point number one fewer criminals will still be practicing their trade ensuring those remaining are too hard headed or hardcore to be allowed to remain within society. 3.  Better access to mental health services.  This is to address the issue of mentally unstable individuals like the ones perpetrating the most heinous of the mass shootings.  These individuals lack any sort criminal motivation, but are very dangerous if not treated for their mental conditions.  These are the wildcards that you simply cannot predict where or how they still strike, but they are surrounded by people who know of their mental instability.  If they can get help before they reach their boiling point this can prevent many needless tragedies.  Its just a matter of both better access to mental health services as well as educating the populace on how to find them if they or someone they know needs it. This is just a rough outline of what I believe will help reduce gun violence, and violence as whole, faster.  As with all solutions the devil is in the details and how this gets implemented is the key to its success.  You asked for one gun owners opinion so there you have it.</blockquote>

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