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Comment by desine | Hacker News Reader

Most "gun violence" uses stolen firearms. Presumably, they'll be using CA's firearm registry to enact the tax. So it's legal owners paying for the actions of illegal gun owners (as a bit of a generalization).

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Perhaps this will incentivize locking guns up better so they won't be stolen?

What's the current punishment for losing a gun and maybe having it end up causing "gun violence"?

The same punishment that you get if someone steals your car and runs someone over with it: nothing.

Comparing cars and guns has always struck me as such a strange argument in the United States. What happens if someone gets their car taken away? They might not be able to go to their job. They might not be able to get themselves or their family food or medical care.

What happens when a person in the US loses their gun? They'll tell you they are now unsafe, but in reality all it does it take away someone's hobby.

>They'll tell you they are now unsafe, but in reality all it does it take away someone's hobby.

It must be nice having such a sheltered, safe life. Not all of us are afforded such opportunity.

Where in the US do you live? Can you share some stories of how you've secured your personal safety using a gun, where you had no other viable options?

Well if you really read my profile I quite openly state I live in Los Angeles. A rather, shall we say, "affordable" section of it. I luckily haven't needed to use my firearms defensively. But I don't really need to answer to you or ask for you approval, that's one beautiful thing about this country. I've seen plenty of violence in my time here. A few times firsthand. My girlfriend is rather petite and physically defenseless, and has a career that would make her an easy target for someone with a chip on their shoulder. I'm not sure why I'm even typing this out - I honestly don't care what you think. Stick to your safe, semi-rural, "red" (how abhorrent!) community and worry about yourself.

edit: stop editing your comment so I can address it. and stop worry about what other people think how you dress. I assure you they care less than you think

I'm sorry you feel so unsafe. Hopefully you never feel you have to use your gun, and if you do I hope you don't inadvertently hit an innocent bystander given you live in such a densely populated area.

For the record, I mentioned where I live because I actually feel far less safe here than in the "bad" parts of San Francisco, Seattle, or Spokane.

ETA:

> worry about yourself

I am worried about myself! Specifically around people who make their identities all about guns, and wear shirts espousing hatred and violence and fear, and attend rallies where they think they're mercenaries being called to start the next civil war.

Well if the general trends hold true, my area has more violent crime total, more violent crime per capita, more unsolved / "justice not served" cases, and a larger amount of "small crimes" that the police don't even respond to than you, so I think your fears are less founded than if you were to move to the tenderloin, which I suspect you have never spent any real time in.

> less founded than if you were to move to the tenderloin, which I suspect you have never spent any real time in.

I lived in the Tenderloin. Hated every second of it (and SF in general), but I sure can't recall a situation where discharging a gun in the middle of a bunch of destitute people would have been the correct option.

Sheriff departments provide crime stats for their county. The number of violent crimes, even in relatively safe areas, is pretty high. For example, in San Jose there will be about 30k violent incidents this year. With 1M population, it's 3% probability of meeting a drug addict with a knife in your kitchen. Unless the homeowner is a ninja, he or she will be at mercy of that junkie. Guns aren't a hobby, but an annoying necessity. Edit: 3% means "once every 30 years".

Why should someone be punished for someone else stealing their property? If a child gains access to a firearm, the owner can be held liable and face punishment. This makes sense to me. But I should be punished if someone breaks into my property and steals my items? That does not seem logical.

I’m going to guess that very few illegal guns in San Jose originate from citizens of San Jose.

They probably are imported from Mountain View or something ;)

Legal owners have created an environment where guns are plentiful and easy for one (be they a law-abiding citizen or a criminal) to get their hands on.

It's about time they be made to pay for the increased danger they have brought to society.

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