Democratic gun laws

["John and Laurie Danahy" <JDANAHY@turbonet.com>]

I just went back and reread the Spokesman review story on the Democrats
attempt to impose criminal penalties on parents whose children gain access
to unsecured firearms.  The recent threads posted here prompted much thought
on my part over this issue.
Clearly the law hasn't been written yet, and while some attempt to satisfy
concerns has been mentioned as exceptions to be written, I have formed the
opinion that the idea is completely unenforceable.  What we have here is
really good intentions resulting in very bad legislation.

If the idea is that guns should be secured, then fine! Pass a law that says
all firearms must be secured when not in use.  This is easy, can be simply
modified as time goes by, and would actually garner support that is wide
ranging, and might even see the light of day in the Idaho legislature.

If the idea is that parents should be held responsible for actions that
endanger children, then I question how and at what cost you would be willing
to enforce any kind of penalty.  What kind of penalty would you impose upon
parents of a child who just committed suicide, or shot their sibling, or a
friend?  Would this prevent Columbine? where the students were 18?  Is this
truly preventative or reactionary?  More money taken from education for
prisons to house parents of minors found in possession of guns?  Despite
years of laws on the books regarding minors in possession of alcohol or
drugs, the situation has gotten much worse.  This law is simply an attempt
to garner attention to a problem and should not be written.

On a side note, the Democratic Party in Idaho has played a minor role for
decades in this state's politics.  As a result of blundering by the
Republicans in the Legislature, there are several real issues that could
result in an increase in respect for democrats if they are willing to deal
seriously with the issues and stakeholders.  Bringing forth legislation such
as criminal penalties for parents once again relegates democrats back to the
clownish extremism that so alienated most of the voters in this state to
begin with.

John


John and Laurie Danahy
jdanahy@turbonet.com