NationStates Jolt Archive

The following proposed legislation has been created to educate kids on the dangers of playing with firearms and teaching adults how to be safe with firearms as well. It does not ban guns nor does it give people free reign with them. I have learned and now believe that Gun Control issues concerning right to buy, own, use etc... should be decided by the individual nations themselves. This legislation however will serve to create educational facilities and safety courses designed to prevent accidents with guns. Here is my proposal. I ask that all UN nations consider approving it. While we may not be able to legislate the control of guns, we can at least legislate education and general wlefare and that is what the UN is about.

Description: This legislation is designed to establish firearms safety courses, in all nations, that teach kids and adults about the dangers of firearms and how to be safe with them.

UNDERSTANDING that kids have accidents with guns.

REALIZING that these accidents could be prevented if kids were properly educated about the dangers of playing with guns, and furthermore, being educated on how to handle a gun carefully.

REALIZING that even adults have preventable accidents with guns.

NOTING that this legislation is NOT designed to restrict the number or kinds of guns owned and is merely trying to keep people safe when handling or being around guns with the use of education. This legislation is NOT designed to put age limits on gun buyers or any other restriction regarding gun laws.

RECOGNIZING that any other legislation concerning gun control should be decided by individual nations unless it concerns war, international trade and/or manufacturing and education.

ESTABLISHES special firearms safety courses for kids starting at age five. This course is designed to teach kids the dangers of playing with guns and teaches kids how to be safe around guns. Note that this is not a required course and parents may or may not place their kids in this course although it is highly recommended that they teach their kids about gun dangers. Parents may also attend these courses with their kids.

ESTABLISHES a required firearms safety course for all people ages 15 and up who wish to own a gun whether it be a handgun, rifle, or shotgun. All citizens who wish to own a firearm or handgun must pass this course. This course is designed to teach adults the proper uses of guns and how to be safe with them as well as how to keep kids from getting hold of them. Citizens who do not take and pass this course may not buy a gun. Exceptions to this rule include those who served in the military or police and have proper firearms training. Any citizen may take this course regardless of criminal background, race, sex, or age, however background checks from the gun dealers themselves can be performed and any law banning guns from those who have criminals reords is the jurisdiction of individual nations. Therefore, even though anyone can take the safety course, the governments of individual nations have the final say as to whether a person with a major criminal record can own a gun.

ESTABLISHES a required hunter education course for kids ages 8 and up and all adults who wish to go hunting with firearms. This course must be passed to be allowed the priviledge of hunting with firearms.

EDUCATING those kids and adults in these safety courses shall be licensed gun safety professionals who shall be approved by individual nations.

SUGGESTS that nations hire law enforcement officials and military personnel to teach the course and/or supervise.

This should be "Tighten", not "Relax", because it is imposing restrictions on gun use. Furthermore, this all seems like something best handled at the national level.

The only thing we would suggest is that you drop the ages in this one and leave that up to each nation to set those. As not all will agree with age five and many may want it before age 15 but after age 8.

Here our children finish basic education courses at age 10 male and age 12female thus have certian rights as citizens at that time pending completion of national service. This is training in their career fields and includes two years of military service for all. Thus by age sixteen they are full citizens with all rights and also trained in the use of weapons in the event they are called on to defend their rights from any enemy.

Thus also the part about parents electing not to send children to this is not a choice they have. Failure to meet the nations service requirements means one is not a citizen thus they have no rights.

As for criminals who commit certain crimes and are not hung for them; they are restricted from owning and using any weapons; even to attend a course on their safe use would violate this and mean they hang. As certain criminals simply don't touch a weapon; period; unless they like the feel of a good rope around their necks as they swing on it..

The starting age for kids to be able to take the safety course is five. Parents can ultimately decide at what age their kids can take the course. Their kids, their rules. I diliberately left the age thing open so if your nation wants to set any age requirements it would be free to do so. Also, why cant this legislation be UN jurisdiction. Come on, Gruenberg, you just had your demining proposal passed by the UN. Why should landmines be UN legislated and not a simple firearms education? Both legislations are trying to keep people safe. What if one nation wants landmines to protect its borders? Shouldnt that be national jurisdiction. Im not trying to insult you or anything. I thought your legislation was brilliant, thats why I voted for it. Im not trying to limit guns or put huge restrictions on them but a little education on guns before purchase and use would go a long way to keep kids and adults safe with guns. While the UN cant really control guns, it can at least educate people about them.

While the UN cant really control guns, it can at least educate people about them Not sure it can do that as all one has to do is say they are the parents and don't want the kids in the courses offered.

Note that this is not a required course and parents may or may not place their kids in this course As this section of the proposal lets them do this.. Only way the UN or anyone can insure gun safety is to require standards to own the gun.. for all who desire to own one. Those unable to meet the standards don't own guns and if caught with one are punished for the crime.. Also to teach all person about them as they all one day will be exposed to them... thus need to know the basic saftey factors around them.

As long as guns are out there all are going at some point to be exposed to one so need to know how to deal with them safely. To not teach them means they are either going to kill somebody with a gun or be killed by a gun should they like all kids find one and play with it.