NationStates Jolt Archive

There is a proposal under the World Assembly proposal list. For those who wish to have a secure and safe world, yet also one in which individuals are protected from despotic governments and other attacks on there person, then this proposal should interest you.

The Following is a copy of the Gun Security and Freedom Act as posted on the proposals. If you have suggestions, I would love to hear them. If this proposal fails, then the resolution can be amended and resubmitted. Thank you.

Gun Security and Freedom Act

To ensure that the Right to Bear Arms, being important not only to hunting and defense, but also to ensure the overthrow of tyrannical governments, continues to be protected, yet also that peace and security can be guaranteed to citizens, the following legislature is to be adopted.

1. Arms limitations, controls, licenses, or bans on individuals gun use are hereby prohibited. No limitation can be made to prohibit where or when an individual carries a firearm, with the exception of secure government facilities.
2. Only licensed dealers subject to regular government inspection shall be allowed to sell arms. Gun owners can only sell their guns back to a licensed arms dealer if they are not one themselves. The dealer must also make a record of such an exchange.
3. Individuals with a violent history or felonious criminal record shall be blacklisted from purchasing a firearm.
4. Dealers must conduct a background check on prospective customers and submit to government in order to ascertain whether the prospective customer meets one of the qualities described in part 3.
5. Those found illegally purchasing or owning a firearm (meeting one of the conditions in number 3) shall be fined $500,000 (adjusted for inflation regularly) if selling or $100,000 if illegally owning. Those who cannot pay this fine shall be instead subjected to a period of incarceration of at least 6 month per $100,000 of the fine.
6. All weaponry shall be tagged with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags.
7. People shall not be prohibited from owning weaponry regardless of action (automatic, semi-automatic), however, individuals who wish to posses automatic or particularly dangerous weapons can be subjected to tests and/or background checks above that required by normal arms sales.

The purpose and effect of this resolution shall be to streamline the process of gun control by allowing the government to more easily track the dissemination of arms through cataloging of sales, rather than individuals. It also reduces government invasion of privacy by eliminating government tracking and licensing of individuals by replacing it with screening of sales. This resolution further protects the individuals right to bear arms by preventing limitations, while also ensuring that arms do not flow into the wrong hands.

[END OF PROPOSAL]

3) shall be fined $500,000 (adjusted for inflation regularly) if selling or $100,000 if illegally owning. Those who cannot pay this fine shall be instead subjected to a period of incarceration of at least 6 month per $100,000 of the fine.

The symbol '$', although it might be used for some foreign nations' currencies, has no legal definition within my own homeland... and so this clause would likewise be lacking in any legal value there.

6. All weaponry shall be tagged with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags.
What definition of "weaponry" is this clause supposed to cover? Would it include not only guns but each round of ammunition for them too? How about knives and axes, of kinds that could be used as weapons although they're mainly intended as tools? And what about stone hand-axes, such as those used within at least one nation whose ambassador has been seen around here?


Alfred Devereux Sweynsson MD,
Speaker Afar to the World Assembly
for the government of
The Kingdom of St Edmund.

This is a set of national laws, not a valid resolution.

A resolution must only address general purpose, rather than establish laws.


Also, it must follow its title.
For instance:
2. Only licensed dealers subject to regular government inspection shall be allowed to sell arms. Gun owners can only sell their guns back to a licensed arms dealer if they are not one themselves.
- How is it relaxation of gun laws?
Let alone the absurdly high penalties.

So keep it as national laws, not resolutions. It won't pass.

This is a set of national laws, not a valid resolution.

A resolution must only address general purpose, rather than establish laws.
No, if a resolution did that, it'd be deleted for being interminably vague. From the Rules for WA Proposals (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=420465):
WA Proposals are attempts to introduce new legislation to member nations. By submitting a Proposal, you are stating that you have found something in the NS world that needs to be addressed and you are attempting to do so by forcing a change to all members. For this reason, WA Proposals must be more than just rhetoric. While they need not be written like "real" WA documents, they do need to be more than just your opinion. Essays belong in the General Forum, or the Serious Discussions Forum, not the WA floor.
I agree, though, that this plays pretty fast and loose with the category. There are too many restrictions for it to be justified as 'Relax', in my opinion.

ensure the overthrow of tyrannical governments
2. Only licensed dealers subject to regular government inspection shall be allowed to sell arms. Gun owners can only sell their guns back to a licensed arms dealer if they are not one themselves. The dealer must also make a record of such an exchange.
3. Individuals with a violent history or felonious criminal record shall be blacklisted from purchasing a firearm.
What if the tyrannical government considers not supporting it to be a felony? Or what if they don't licence anyone?

I agree, though, that this plays pretty fast and loose with the category. There are too many restrictions for it to be justified as 'Relax', in my opinion.

Banning any form of gun control aside from stopping felons is pretty relaxed to me. I don't think even the Ambassador, happy hunting wonk that he is, will go for this one.

--
Cerys Coch, Permanent Undersecretary

While they need not be written like "real" WA documents, they do need to be more than just your opinion.Huh. Wonder if that instance of WA should actually be UN...

The people of Vklarria do not have the right to bear arms. It causes more problems than it solves.

Would this proposed bill not infringe on the sovereignty of nations?

I'd rather ban guns to keep my people subservient.

Huh. Wonder if that instance of WA should actually be UN...
Yes, I noticed that. It should probably be 'RL International Organization', at the very least.

I'd rather ban guns to keep my people subservient.

I prefer to arm all my people to keep neighboring nations subservient...

:sniper: :mp5: :sniper:

The people of Vklarria do not have the right to bear arms. It causes more problems than it solves.

Would this proposed bill not infringe on the sovereignty of nations?

While I agree with you that the sovereignty of nations is an important principle. However, the WA imposes laws that are very specific and, frankly, in defiance of this principle. As a result, I seek to protect individual rights that are important, since another will inevitably propose a resolution (illegality aside) that does just the opposite.

As to whether or not it is fair to force laws upon other nations; isn't that what every WA resolution does? We all agree. as part of the World Assembly, to respect whatever verdict the WA delivers when we vote on a resolution, whether we like the outcome or not. Remember that both those who voted for and against a resolution in the WA are bound by it.

Thank you for you thoughts

The symbol '$', although it might be used for some foreign nations' currencies, has no legal definition within my own homeland... and so this clause would likewise be lacking in any legal value there.

Excellent point. To clairfy, the resolution would state "or a like amount in accordance with exchange rates at the time of the passing of this resolution and adjusting for inflation, in the currency of the country in which the fine is being administered."

Actually, a universal currency might be a good resolution. It would certainly enhance trade and make things a lot easier when it came to accounting, fines, etc, as it would eliminate the need for maintaining exchange rates...

What definition of "weaponry" is this clause supposed to cover? Would it...here?

Another excellent point. I had not thought of that. The resolution should be amended to say "firearm."

Actually, a universal currency might be a good resolution. It would certainly enhance trade and make things a lot easier when it came to accounting, fines, etc, as it would eliminate the need for maintaining exchange rates...

[OOC: Unfortunately, establishing a universal currency would be a Game Mechanics violation (since people get to choose their own currencies).]

I have a few problems with this,

To ensure that the Right to Bear Arms, being important not only to hunting and defense, but also to ensure the overthrow of tyrannical governments,
Some of us quite like our tyrannical goverments though.

5. Those found illegally purchasing or owning a firearm (meeting one of the conditions in number 3) shall be fined $500,000 (adjusted for inflation regularly) if selling or $100,000 if illegally owning. Those who cannot pay this fine shall be instead subjected to a period of incarceration of at least 6 month per $100,000 of the fine.

This would probably be easier to read, if it was set out in sub-clauses such as 5.1 fine for illegal possession etc. I'd also change it so the the fine and/or prison sentence can be scaled depending of the nature of the weapon, illegally owing a small calibre pistol shouldn't have the same punishment as that of a chain loading mini-gun.

6. All weaponry shall be tagged with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags.

All fine and well, doesn't say that we actually have to use this technology to track the weapons. Nothing to say of those nations who either exceed or aren't able to use this level of technology.

Kari Kagrosi
WA Pirate

If there is some equivalent for an international currency it could be the price of one ounce of gold (although I do not know how much grammes an ounce is). Or maybe we could use the metric system, so the price of 1 gram of pure gold?

Anyway we do not deal in dollars and we do not deal in weapons either.
:rolleyes:

Greetings,
Cocoamok
Co-ordinator of the Wierd Anarchists