Bernie Sanders on Gun Policy

Gun control legislation should ultimately fall on individual states, with the exception of a federal ban on assault weapons and instant background checks to prevent firearms from finding their way into the hands of criminals and the mentally ill. Bernie Sanders believes that gun control is largely a state issue because attitudes and actions with regards to firearms differ greatly between rural and urban communities.Gun control legislation should ultimately fall on individual states, with the exception of a federal ban on assault weapons and instant background checks to prevent firearms from finding their way into the hands of criminals and the mentally ill. Bernie Sanders believes that gun control is largely a state issue because attitudes and actions with regards to firearms differ greatly between rural and urban communities. Nevertheless, Bernie Sanders believes there are situations where the federal government should intervene. He voted in favor of requiring background checks to prevent firearms from getting into the hands of felons and the mentally ill, passing a federal ban on assault weapons, and closing loopholes which allows private sellers at gun shows and on the internet to sell to individuals without background checks. Bernie Sanders also intends to ban the sale of high-capacity magazines and crack down on “straw purchases,” which is when other people buy guns for people who are not allowed to own guns. Gun manufacturers should not be held liable for the misuse of their products, just as any other industry isn’t held accountable for how end-consumers use their products. Gun control is not the only solution to curbing the epidemic of gun violence. There must be other efforts to assist those with mental health issues in order to prevent suicides by firearms or mass shootings at public places. Sanders has long been a proponent of what he refers to as ‘middle-ground legislation.’ That means that he largely believes that gun control legislation should largely be the province of individual states — Vermont is, indeed, one of the most gun friendly states in the country. But he still supports the federal ban on assault weapons and background checks and other federal laws to stop mass shootings and extreme gun violence.
show more ...