Snarkiness aside I agree with you. I would have no problem changing the law to the same age as getting a Concealed Weapons Permit in Florida, which is 21, unless the person is in the presence of an adult who is over 21.

I also have no problem with requiring licensure to be able to buy a gun.. requiring taking a gun safety course (allow the NRA to run these) and having background checks everytime the license comes up for renewal. We can make the renewal period every 3 years or so. I am opposed to registering every gun to an owner. That could create a database that is too ripe for abuse at some future time. We could even make possessing such a valid license a requirement for having a gun in one's possession much as we make a drivers license a part of driving.

The problem with gun regulations in the past is that many of the ones in the past restricted cosmetic aspects of guns with no clear definition of capability of the weapon. I have seen "assault rifle" used even on this board, yet other than a military grade weapon, I am not sure what is meant by an "assault rifle".

WE are going to have to beef up security in all public venues, I am sorry to say. I agree with JVJ that I hate to do this, but it is necessary. Even if we outlawed all guns tomorrow (I do not support that), there are so many out there that crazy people will still get them. Banning guns is just a "feel good" strategy.

Finally, we have to look at the root societal causes of this. We have always had a plethora of guns in American Society yet mass shootings are on the rise now. Why is that? Many keep claiming that this shooter showed early warning signs, and though that is true, there are so many people in our society who are just like him that it would be nearly impossible for any law enforcement agency to prevent guys like this prospectively. It is a great platitude to speak about "mental health" and needing to improve mental health services..but nobody has yet demonstrated an effective mental health strategy that could combat this. When we look at other western societies that have fewer of these problems we fail to realize that, as societies, they are NICER to each other than we are. In the US, everything seems to be centered around on telling people off.

We have a gun problem, yes. But more importantly, we also have a severe civility problem.