Can Gun Control Stop Gun Deaths?

 

On election day, November 2016, California voters cast their ballots for Proposition 63, a gun-control initiative. The initiative passed with 63% vs 37% of the vote. These were the bullet points:

·       Requires individuals to pass a background check and obtain Department of Justice authorization to purchase ammunition.

·       Prohibits possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines, and requires their disposal, as specified.

·       Requires most ammunition sales be made through licensed ammunition vendors and reported to Department of Justice.

·       Requires lost or stolen firearms and ammunition be reported to law enforcement.

·       Prohibits persons convicted of stealing a firearm from possessing firearms.

·       Establishes new procedures for enforcing laws prohibiting firearm possession.

·       Requires Department of Justice to provide information about prohibited persons to federal National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

 

Summary:

Proposition 63 will treat ammunition sales like gun sales, requiring ammunition purchasers to undergo a background check and ammunition sellers to obtain a state license. It will create a clear process for convicted criminals who are prohibited from possessing firearms to relinquish their guns, prohibit the possession of military-style large capacity ammunition magazines, and require the reporting of lost or stolen firearms. It will also require the state to report prohibited individuals to the federal background check system (NICS), and clarify a previous initiative (2014’s Proposition 47) to ensure that the theft of any gun is a felony.

Official California voter guide for the initiative, with for and against arguments and rebuttals:

Official Voter Guide with Arguments

Activists for the proposition claim that gun-control is working in the state, and that this initiative will take another giant step toward the reduction of gun violence.

“Courageous legislators in California have stood up to the gun lobby, however, and enacted the strongest state gun laws in the nation. As a result, gun deaths here have dropped by 56 percent in the last 20 years, twice as much as they’ve dropped in other states. But we can do better. And with Prop 63, we’re poised to take a dramatic leap forward in the fight against gun violence.”

Those against:

Prop. 63 is overwhelmingly opposed by the law enforcement community and civil rights groups because it will burden law abiding citizens without keeping violent criminals and terrorists from accessing firearms and ammunition.

Exploiting terrorist attacks to push sweeping laws affecting law-abiding peoples' civil liberties is misleading, wrong, and dangerous.

None of the proposed laws would prevent terrorist attacks.


Proposition 63

Can Gun Control Stop Gun Deaths?

 

On election day, November 2016, California voters cast their ballots for Proposition 63, a gun-control initiative. The initiative passed with 63% vs 37% of the vote. These were the bullet points:

·       Requires individuals to pass a background check and obtain Department of Justice authorization to purchase ammunition.

·       Prohibits possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines, and requires their disposal, as specified.

·       Requires most ammunition sales be made through licensed ammunition vendors and reported to Department of Justice.

·       Requires lost or stolen firearms and ammunition be reported to law enforcement.

·       Prohibits persons convicted of stealing a firearm from possessing firearms.

·       Establishes new procedures for enforcing laws prohibiting firearm possession.

·       Requires Department of Justice to provide information about prohibited persons to federal National Instant Criminal Background Check System.

 

Summary:

Proposition 63 will treat ammunition sales like gun sales, requiring ammunition purchasers to undergo a background check and ammunition sellers to obtain a state license. It will create a clear process for convicted criminals who are prohibited from possessing firearms to relinquish their guns, prohibit the possession of military-style large capacity ammunition magazines, and require the reporting of lost or stolen firearms. It will also require the state to report prohibited individuals to the federal background check system (NICS), and clarify a previous initiative (2014’s Proposition 47) to ensure that the theft of any gun is a felony.

Official California voter guide for the initiative, with for and against arguments and rebuttals:

Official Voter Guide with Arguments

Activists for the proposition claim that gun-control is working in the state, and that this initiative will take another giant step toward the reduction of gun violence.

“Courageous legislators in California have stood up to the gun lobby, however, and enacted the strongest state gun laws in the nation. As a result, gun deaths here have dropped by 56 percent in the last 20 years, twice as much as they’ve dropped in other states. But we can do better. And with Prop 63, we’re poised to take a dramatic leap forward in the fight against gun violence.”

 

Those against:

Prop. 63 is overwhelmingly opposed by the law enforcement community and civil rights groups because it will burden law abiding citizens without keeping violent criminals and terrorists from accessing firearms and ammunition.

Exploiting terrorist attacks to push sweeping laws affecting law-abiding peoples' civil liberties is misleading, wrong, and dangerous.

None of the proposed laws would prevent terrorist attacks.