I'm editing an article about the changes (read: increases) in gun purchases after mass shootings, and I have to look up the details about every shooting mentioned so I can verify that the article reported it accurately. About 4 pages in, I am super depressed and demoralized. Humans are garbage.

That is awful depressing, Steph. At least by verifying the information, it makes it harder for those opposed to sensible gun safety to pretend that facts don't matter.

At an earlier point in my life I was for a total gun ban, but as I've gotten older and (I hope?) wiser, I'm more for sensible gun control measures that work to keep them out of the hands of irresponsible people, a la car registration and driving licenses, and insurance.

Timelies all!

Today it was sunny and around 50 F. Weird weather.

Ugh, Tep. That sounds awful.

I went out and picked up bbq for lunch, a sandich for lunch and ribs I will bring home for dinner and a small portion of bacon-wrapped brisket bites so I could see how they tasted. I am pretty happy with those choices so far, although I would like a nap a little more than i usually do at this time.

bacon-wrapped brisket bites

Just reading that made me start drooling like Homer Simpson.

They are, in fact, that good.

It occurs to me one reason people would be against gun owners needing insurance is that most straight white dudes would have the highest insurance rates! Like as a woman, it's be cheap, but a dude who was 25? Yeah, good luck finding someone to insure you having that gun...you could be a mass murderer! I mean probably not, but statistically...

You should be able to lower that premium by passing a strict gun handling (marksmanship, cleaning and assembling, legal aspects, first aid for gunshot wounds), plus proof of a gun safe in your residence.

I really think part of our problem with guns in this country is that we've aged out of a population where a majority of the males either hunted or spent time in the military learning gun handling, so that firearms have become more of a fantasy weapon rather than a practical tool to be respected.

I wonder why people aren't talking more about restrictions on ammunition? That feels like a harder argument to counter -- if you want the gun for protection or hunting, aren't 20 bullets (or whatever) plenty to have on hand at once?

If you want to go to a range or shoot bottles in a field, you can go through a lot of ammo. I kinda feel like more liability would good. If the consequences for your kid getting ahold of one of guns and accidentally shooting someone were pretty severe then maybe people would at least keep their guns locked up. That would reduce a lot of deaths, especially suicides. Hell, just a public awareness campaign about keeping your guns secure might help save lives. I mean keep your handgun in a lockbox on your nightstand if you are paranoid. It only takes a couple of seconds to punch in a four digit pin.

I really think part of our problem with guns in this country is that we've aged out of a population where a majority of the males either hunted or spent time in the military learning gun handling, so that firearms have become more of a fantasy weapon rather than a practical tool to be respected.

I think you're right. Gun ownership seems more about identity than need in a lot of cases.