So now let's have a constitutional convention to hash out what we want gun rights to look like for the next hundred years. How fun would that be? It could go on for years, neither side having enough support to get their plan ratified, neither willing to give an inch.

Worse. At some point, one side would have the slimmest possible margin required in order to impose their plan, and would.

The problem in my mind isn't just the 2cd Amendment. The problem is that the 2cd Amendment merely codifies a basic human right- to self defense. Not sure how you could repeal/replace the amendment and still allow people the right to defend themselves effectively.

The possibility of drawing parallels between cars and guns makes for some interesting thinking point.

To own and operate a car you need a few things:

1. A license: proving to the state that you are a competent operator. This is required in every state. Is a gun use license required in every state?
2. Ownership and Registration - proving that you own the vehicle and are paying the required taxes to fund vehicle related oversight and administration by the gov't. This is required in every state. Do you need proof of ownership, registered with the state for every gun? Do you pay an annual tax for the right to use that gun?
3. Liability Insurance - to provide restitution in case you mess up. This is required in every state (as far as I know). Are gun owners legally required to carry gun specific liability to pay out the victims of gun crime?

I propose that making the 3 items above mandatory for legal gun ownership would go part way to fixing the problem. The invisible hand of economics will drive the insurance premiums up to the point where owning a gun may be too expensive. It would also carry a different cost for the 40 year old soccer mom carrying a small .38 in her purse and for the 26 year old guy who was kicked out of the military and now wants a AR-15.

Furthermore- every two years I have to get my car inspected by a licensed service shop to make sure it still function properly, hasn't been modified illegally, is still in my possession. If guns are to be regulated at least like cars we should have state DOG offices (Dept. of Guns) where sour looking, soulless bureaucrats perform and validate the above checks.

Its not much, but at least it would be a start.

And none of those 3 things you've pointed out will make a driver operate more safely. Not a single one.

isn't it that owning and operating a car is more regulated than owning and operating a gun?

It isn't, though.

Buying and owning a car isn't regulated at all.

but what are we debating here? isn't it that owning and operating a car is more regulated than owning and operating a gun?

If you can point to where that was the premise, then you would be right. But that isn't the premise.

The premise is that ownership and use of a motor vehicle is more heavily controlled and regulated than guns, in America. I don't see that as being untrue. Most are aware of the "gun show" loophole where someone can buy a weapon with no background checks, licence or waiting period.

Let's put it this way. As a non-American (I am British), I am pretty confident that I could come to the US, go to a gun range and very quickly, and easily, have access to a weapon that I could fire. I'm not saying that I could take this weapon away and commit mass murder, but I could certainly get one in a shooting range and cause some pretty horrible injury or death within the confines of the range. With regard to driving, if I didn't have a driving licence, I am not confident at all that I could get hold of a vehicle at all easily. I couldn't hire one and no one in their right mind would let me borrow one. So, even with that very basic (and crude) example, access to cars and vehicles is a lot harder than guns.

If people were using their guns for hours every day there would be more gun deaths than car deaths. It is just not the same. Generally you do almost anything without a gun. (Excepting touring inner cities and most hunting). For many very practical things people do they need a car. I still think the number of deaths by car is unacceptably high in Canada and US.

The possibility of drawing parallels between cars and guns makes for some interesting thinking point.

To own and operate a car you need a few things:

1. A license: proving to the state that you are a competent operator. This is required in every state. Is a gun use license required in every state?
2. Ownership and Registration - proving that you own the vehicle and are paying the required taxes to fund vehicle related oversight and administration by the gov't. This is required in every state. Do you need proof of ownership, registered with the state for every gun? Do you pay an annual tax for the right to use that gun?
3. Liability Insurance - to provide restitution in case you mess up. This is required in every state (as far as I know). Are gun owners legally required to carry gun specific liability to pay out the victims of gun crime?

I propose that making the 3 items above mandatory for legal gun ownership would go part way to fixing the problem. The invisible hand of economics will drive the insurance premiums up to the point where owning a gun may be too expensive. It would also carry a different cost for the 40 year old soccer mom carrying a small .38 in her purse and for the 26 year old guy who was kicked out of the military and now wants a AR-15.

Furthermore- every two years I have to get my car inspected by a licensed service shop to make sure it still function properly, hasn't been modified illegally, is still in my possession. If guns are to be regulated at least like cars we should have state DOG offices (Dept. of Guns) where sour looking, soulless bureaucrats perform and validate the above checks.

Its not much, but at least it would be a start.

My dad has been in 3 accidents (not his fault) in the last 2 years in Houston. Two of those the other driver didn't have a license, registration or insurance. I'm not sure on the 3rd because the driver drove off probably because he didn't have at least one of those items that are required in Texas.