Of all the ideas I’ve heard to curb gun violence, one of most intriguing is also one of the least discussed.
It comes my way from a hyper-smart retired Navy commander who calls occasionally with suggestions. His latest: Require gun owners to carry liability insurance for the firearms they own.
Comments
I agree wholeheartedly with this idea!
Although I have never seen a semi-automatic 30-30 rifle, the rimmed case doesn't lend itself to self feeding, I agree with the article. My weapons are covered under my homeowners policy for loss and I would imagine a liability rider could be obtained from my insurance carrier. Of course, this would be one more data base with a list of my guns. I do keep my guns in a safe but a determined robber could carry that off and break into it at their leisure. I doubt that the bad guys are going to run down to their Allstate agent and pick up a liability policy. Legitimate gun owners should not object to this but I am sure that many will. Certainly a good first step worth considering.
Much like with the seatbelt law, it seems that we need insurance companies to get us to do the right thing. I am in complete agreement with this idea.
In addition to being a subsidy to the insurance industry, this idea is bad on it's face.
Requiring an insurance polity a gun in an effort to prevent gun crime is like requiring life insurance to prevent suicide.
Committing a crime with a gun is a conscious decision which by its very nature is uninsurable (like suicide). Insurance is meant to prevent accidents, or events that are out of the control of the person who will be reimbursed.
Auto insurance companies have no check on the mental health of it's customers, what makes anyone think it'd be possible for gun owners?
I agree with the idea of requiring gun insurance. All the points covered are excellent in helping curb gun and ammunition sales to unstable and violent people. What wasn't covered is the mechanism for insurance payouts to victims of gun violence. Gun insurance should be a collective pool by insurance providers or even a government agency that pays out equally and fairly to any gun victim regardless of what weapon caused the damage - even if the weapon was uninsured. Keep the agency pool free from having to determine responsibility so they can concentrate on providing help to the victims. Leave it to the police to sort out the details. Note that guns and cars produce a similar number of victims. Pray that currently, if you do become a victim of either, that it is cars instead of guns. At least you will be somewhat compensated.