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Massachusetts Gun Licensing Requirements
It is rare to watch the news at night and not hear about another shooting in America or see flashbacks of past tragedies. Now we will each share where we stand on gun control as of now.
I am Ashley and I currently believe it is too easy to obtain a gun license and purchase guns today. It makes me uneasy to read about the steps a person has to take in my state to be able to carry a gun, or anywhere in the United States for that matter. I appreciate that they run background checks before distributing licenses, however a young adult who may have evil intentions may not have any crimes reported yet. I also feel the people the person who wishes to get a gun license lives with should be required to fill out forms as well. Everyone who lives in the house where there will be guns needs to be completely educated on gun safety and mentally capable of knowing right from wrong. Guns can get in the wrong hands too easily and I think it is important to make steps towards safer gun distribution. I do believe people should have the right to protect themselves, however I do not think everyone is made to be a gun owner. I am realistic and I know guns will never be eliminated from the public I think it is time for Americans to learn more about gun control and how we can ensure safety.
I am Amanda and I believe that it is too easy to obtain a gun license and purchase guns today in Massachusetts. The process doesn't seem in depth enough for someone who wants to carry a gun. Carrying a gun is a serious thing. The weapon can be harmful not only to the owner but to the people around him or her. In order for a person to receive a gun license they have to take a Basic Firearms Safety Course. Once the course is taken, the person can go to their local police station and apply for a gun. The police department runs a background check on the person to make sure they have no restraining orders, determine if they are suitable, and determine if they have any convictions and so on. The person also has to go for a mental health check. A person may have a clear background check, but may have crimes that have not been reported or the person may have baneful intentions with the weapon once in their possession. When a person has a mental health check it is only to assure they have never been institutionalized. It does not inform the police department if they are being treated or have been treated for a mental health issue. For example, a person trying to get a gun permit could be treated for bipolar but the officials would never know because they aren't required to disclose that information. I am grateful that all of these steps are acknowledged, but are they really proving that someone is capable of carrying a gun? In my opinion, the answer is no. It is too easy for someone to become a gun owner. I respect the idea that people want to protect themselves, and I know that guns will never be omitted in Massachusetts, but I think it is time for Americans to learn about how people obtain guns and what we can do to change the laws on gun ownership.
Hi I am Allison and I believe that the process to
obtain a gun in Massachusetts is too easy. Yes, proper paperwork and background
checks must be done but I do not feel like that is enough. Just because
somebody has not committed a crime does not mean they are not going to. Just
because someone wants to own a gun for protection does not mean that everyone
in that home feels the same; not everyone in that home may be a good person
with humane intentions. Many of the horrific crimes that have happened recently
are due to it being too easy to legally obtain a gun, or guns being too easy to
take from other people. Also the gun laws do not process mental illness as part
of the FBI background check which I believe to be the most vital flaw in the
process of getting a gun. I do not believe people should be penalized for
having mental disorders, but to be given one of the most powerful items in the
world that makes it so simple to hurt or kill someone is too much of a danger
to themselves and the people around them. I am also aware that there are people who hunt
for sport (which I personally also do not agree with) as well as those who want
a gun to protect themselves, especially due to the recent events. However if we
weren’t allowing people to easily get possession of guns less people would be
so scared and feel the need to have their own. It’s a vicious cycle that
somebody needs to stop and that will only happen if we as citizens come together, learn the
most we can about the topic, and make America a safer place to live.