Suggestions for new gun control legislation

It is time for those states that want to have a 21st-century urban culture to fight back. Their leaders need to be creative, not just pass one or two new laws. They should enact every possible restriction on guns.

Here are some suggestions:

Raise all current violations of gun laws to felonies.

Prohibit the carrying of guns in every public place possible, including all transportation systems and all private liveries, and let the U.S. Supreme Court determine the boundary line between what is constitutional and what is not.

Require every private business, commercial establishment, hotel and the like that allows the carrying of guns on the premises to post conspicuous signs stating that guns are allowed so that those who do not want to be around armed strangers will be warned about the nature of that establishment.

Make the carrying of a gun into any restricted public place or into any private place where the owner does not allow guns a felony. Place the onus on the gun carrier to determine the nature of the property prior to entry with a gun.

Provide for citizen enforcement of all gun laws with specified civil recoveries.

Require that all guns carried outside the home be insured against liability for the damage that could be caused by the gun. Insurance must be by registration number for each gun and the gun carrier must carry proof of insurance when carrying the gun. Allow police to do random firearm insurance checks. Make carrying an uninsured firearm a felony.

There must be many more that I have not thought of. New York should certainly enact them all. I don’t want to live in Dodge City.

Bill Mactiernan

Schenectady