Gun Control Put Forward - Registration Pt. 1

Okay, first idea I have here is a simple one.  Let's start to think of the qualifications for being permitted to own a firearm.  I realize it is every Americans' Constitutional Right, but one persons right is intersected by another persons right or equal weight.  There are a lot of bantering comments on the internet with things like "cars kill people, we going to regulate them more too?"  I think what I want is actually to apply this directly.

First part of this is Registration of the *USER*.  I'm not talking about ownership just yet.  I'm talking about the *USER*.  The actual operator of the device.  With a car, every state in the union has devised parallel methods of determining if a person is legally suitable enough to drive a vehicle.  This is a device, a tool, a luxury.  It's primary intented usage is transporation.  The side-effect of an improperly operated vehicle however can manifest as a device which can also take a life (and often not the driver/operators).  A firearm is also a device, with the primary intended usage to be..... to kill.  To inflict harm, to menace and intimidate or directly remove the target's status as a living being.

As such, with a car we regulate for the sake of a larger body (the safety of the public at large) the user/operator of a vehicle first and foremost if they are fit.  This means are they healthy enough (visual acumen, epilepsy, severe mental states), do they possess an understanding of the operating procedures of a general vehicle (turning, driving, signalling to other operators/communications, inclement weather).  We also require them to retest on regular intervals.  When the user/operator is caught by an authorized civil servant (aka; the traffic cops) operating a vehicle in a dangerous or manner than that which it is or was designed for, they are penalized according to a system that is in place for each state.

And each state by the way shares this information with other states in the Union.  People with extremely poor driving records are flagged by many states and that information is made available to other states of the Union.

Furthermore, in many (all?) states of the Union now, all vehicle operators are required to carry a certain amount of liability coverage (insurance).  But that is a subject for later.

What I'm aiming at here, is determining the viability and proficiency of a gun operator/user as a requirement for registration of an OPERATORS license.  And in order to do this we have to classify the firearm(s) in question appropriately.  Luckily, such classifications already exist by the not only the civil and military authorities, but by the firearms manufacturers themselves.  For example;

A Hunting Firearm Operator (Slug or Shot) is going to be the most common usage type to first be discussed.  This is a type of firearm operator that has a history of a wide array of ages.  It is not uncommon for people to take their sons and daughters of what they feel is an appropriate age out to hunt with them for the purpose of sport and/or game hunting.  These ages vary by the parent, but the state(s) can directly intercede here and place a flat age here.  Let's say 16 for a standard hunting operator's license.  Let's then say that a "Learner's Permit" or "Dependant's License" can be obtained at an age like 12 or 14.  And these latter permits must be obtained with a legal parent/guardian who is ALREADY REGISTERED appropriately *AND* carries the appropriate liability insurance for said dependant/learner.

Personal Firearms usage can begin at a slightly more elevated age, an age when most people are considered to be entering "adulthood".  Let's call this 18.  I'm calling it 18 because this is the age of military registration under normal circumstances.  And a citizen involved in the military is going to likely receive far more training and will even have other opportunities for gun ownership (more later here too).  I'm also calling 18 because this is near the cap of a young adult as they are graduating high school and thus, hopefully, helping to reduce the tensions of guns in otherwise gun-free zones (more here later too).

Firearms have levels above what I will label "personal firearms".  These are the devices that are, within the USA, more commonly thought of as items beholden to Civil and Military personnel.  And yup, you folks reading this might be guessing where I'm heading here.  I'm suggesting that in order to get access to these "more intensive firearms", one must obtain appropriate training/education on the usage of such in order to obtain a registration/operators permit for such.  Civil and Military authorities are looking for ways to earn some extra cash ... how about responsible firearms classes and systems of training for people seeking these things?  Registration could be made part of the class, and in a manner similar to Defensive Driving classes now, it might effect (lower) ones liability coverage costs.