Proposals to Prevent Future Shootings

“Sen. Lindsey Graham said Monday he will propose bipartisan legislation to encourage more states to adopt ‘red flag’ laws after a pair of horrific mass shootings. The South Carolina Republican’s announcement came soon after President Donald Trump also called for such laws, which allow police and family members to request that a court temporarily restrict the access to firearms of people who may pose an imminent threat to themselves or others… Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Penn.) also renewed calls for passing his and West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin's bill to expand background checks after Trump tweeted about the issue earlier in the day.” (Politico)

The left isn’t opposed to ‘red flag’ laws, but argues for more extensive gun control measures and aggressive policies to counter white nationalism.

“Republicans on Fox News over the weekend trotted out the same tired excuses: video games are to blame, they said. President Trump claimed it was all about mental health. Both explanations are absurd. After adjusting for population, video game revenues between the United States and Britain are roughly equal. And even though video game revenues are substantially higher per capita in Japan than in the United States, there are roughly 111 Americans killed in gun homicides for every Japanese homicide victim even after adjusting for population. Mental health and substance abuse disorders are slightly higher in the United States than in Britain and Japan, but not dramatically so, and certainly not 73 or 111 times higher… The world thinks America’s gun laws are crazy — and they’re right.” (Brian Klaas, Washington Post)

The right supports ‘red flag’ laws but is skeptical of increased background checks or an ‘assault weapon’ ban.

“Indiscriminately banning certain types of guns, such as semi-automatic ‘assault weapons,’ is a violation of that constitutional right… [But] no right is absolute, not even the right to bear arms. Natural rights are bound by responsibility. This means that at times citizens must give up parts of their liberty for the greater good. Regulating gun rights can in some circumstances be justifiable. The question then becomes, what should that regulation look like?” (Kaylee McGhee, Washington Examiner)