________________________________________________
20 February 2018
Dear Congressman Mac Thornberry:
I am a current resident in Canyon, Texas. I am also a retired municipal deputy police
chief from New Mexico, and recently retired criminal justice professor in the
State University of New York system where I taught criminology and
constitutional law. The last six years
of my post-secondary education career in New York was spent as an academic dean
and associate vice president.
Like the rest of the country, my friends and I have been
discussing gun control in the wake of the Florida mass shooting. I presented some recommendations to my
friends and a few have suggested that I present these recommendations to
you. In addition to my recommendations,
a friend and former colleague, Jim Burleson, a former deputy director of the
New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy has added suggestions to my list. His and my recommendations for legislation
are included in this list.
Admittedly, it is not a perfect list for legislation, but it
is a start and I believe it would go a long way toward addressing the problem
we currently have. The stark reality is
that no matter what is done now or in the future, someone will find a way
around the law while others will simply continue to flat out break it.
Here are our recommendations with footnoted comments. The list is lengthy, but I do hope you review
and consider these action items as part of a comprehensive approach to
protecting our children in schools while at the same time protecting those who
want to secure their Second Amendment rights.
The NRA probably wouldn’t like some of these suggestions.
Regards,
Gregory B. Talley
115 Nicci Lane
Canyon, TX 79015
gregory.talley@yahoo.com
1. Require
that all purchasers of any semi-automatic firearm except for those that fire
.22 caliber bullets, be at least 21-years-old.[1]
4. Require
at the time of purchase of a firearm that the buyer complete an approved (by a
board of psychologists) short psychological screening test (perhaps a section
of the MMPI) regardless of the number of firearms a person has purchased in the
past, which test can be administered by the seller and be automatically
evaluated electronically. The
psychological screening is to be completed by a non-government agency, subject
to review by court order in the event of an unlawful shooting. Failures of the screening would be appealed
through an in-person evaluation by a licensed psychologist and ruled upon by a
judge.[4]
5. Except
for automatic weapons already permitted by law (pre-1986 manufactured),
continue to outlaw the possession of automatic weapons.
6. Rather
than prohibit the addition of items that converts a semi-automatic weapon to an
automatic weapon, prohibit the addition of ANY item to a semi-automatic weapon
that converts it to firing more than one bullet at a time with a trigger pull,
regardless of the rate of fire.[5]
7. Restrict
the sale of video games that depict the shooting of weapons at people or
animals, using edged weapons to kill or injure a person, the use of explosive
devices, or the use of any other item to kill or injure a person to persons
over the age of 21.[6]
8. Hire
retired police or former honorably discharged military members to provide armed
presence on school campuses.[7]
9. Require
any person except sworn law enforcement officers to pass through a magnetometer
or be subjected to a visual or pat-down search upon entering a school.[8]
10. Require
in-service training to teachers at all grade levels to complete a course that
helps them to identify potentially dangerous students and provide the means for
them to report their suspicions to school administrators, school counselors
and/or school mental health personnel, and the subject student’s parents or
guardians. Assure that there are no
adverse repercussions directed to teachers making good faith reports.
11. No
federal funds for any hospital not equipped with a mental hold area manned with
qualified personnel.
12. A
comprehensive data base for mental health checks accessible to police, judicial
and gun sales.
13. Expanded
family courts to hear wide varieties of mental health cases.
14. Mandatory
reporting requirements for mental health related danger on par with similar
requirements for child abuse.
15.
[1]
Ruger makes a popular rifle (10-22) as does Marlin. There are probably other popular
semi-automatic rifles suitable for target practice and plinking. Removing these
from permissible firearms would probably meet with strong objection.
[2]
Hunter safety and NRA firearm safety courses are readily available and for a
nominal fee.
[3] We
know that the instant background checks are not perfect, but they need to
continue. If there are things to beef
these up then they should be included.
[4] I
received a few comments about this particular recommendation; However,
something is better than nothing. Those
administering the test need to be trained in administering. There are sufficient resources out there to
score such a test. When I was in law
enforcement we used a psychological screening test that rooted out the most
unsuitable applicants. Some, we learned,
were downright dangerous. Such a
screening as a designated section of the MMPI could quickly be administered and
scored by an outside vendor.
[5]
Doing this will make it unnecessary to come back every other year to adopt new
legislation that converts a semi-automatic weapon to a full automatic.
[6] I
can hear the First Amendment supporters and manufacturers of video games (and
even violent movies) crying foul on this already. That said, we are already talking about
Second Amendment restrictions as well as acknowledging those that are in
place. There is adequate research out
there to show that the power of suggestion of these games and videos are indeed
powerful and influential. It’s time to
dial it back.
[7]
Former police and military police already have a world of training. They would need training dealing with school
security and dealing with youth.
Obviously, they would need to maintain certain certifications in
firearms, first aid, etc.
[8] This
does not have to be intrusive and it doesn’t have to expensive and
lengthy. It does present problems
concerning the entry of students, faculty, and staff during high volume traffic
hours. Though not likely agreeable with
the NEA, even teachers and staff could be used in this process. Another problem would be things such as
basketball games, but the object here is to keep firearms out of the schools.
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