National Firearms Agreement
To the editor:
After a mass shooting in Australia in 1996 a National Firearms Agreement was passed by national and local leaders working together. Since then there have been no mass shootings in Australia. Total gun fatalities have dropped as have suicides with guns. Suicide by other means have not increased.
The government has had a buyback program. All guns owners need a license and a valid reason to own a gun. Self-protection is not a valid reason. All guns are required to be registered by serial number to their owner. When guns are registered there is a 28-day waiting period during which a background check is accomplished. This has not been uniformly enforced but it has accomplished a marked reduction in gun violence.
We could do that in the U.S. If a representative votes against a similar law they should not be a representative anymore.