Yellow Bird: Tighten gun control laws in North Dakota

"Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine announced Monday that the state had closed a loophole that had allowed a mentally disturbed Virginia Tech student to buy the guns used in the recent shooting rampage. It seems that gun control nationwide has too many loopholes. The increase in school shootings in the past 10 years alone indicates the need for changes in state and federal laws.

In an survey called “Gun Control in the United States,” the Open Society Institute scored the states on the strength of their gun laws; the higher the score (with a maximum score of 100 percent), the tougher the laws. The study's conclusion: 42 states scored less than 20 percent. The average score among all states was 9 percent. And, North Dakota is one of 20 lowest-ranking states that actually scored less than zero.

In the Brady Campaign to prevent gun violence, North Dakota earned an overall grade of “D” on laws shielding families from gun violence. Some of our scores were: Juvenile possession law and juvenile sale/transfer law, B; child access prevention law, F. Gun safety locks and safer design standards, F. Secondary “private” sales background checks, F. Allow cities to regulate guns, F. And carrying concealed weapons law, D.

Also in North Dakota, police may not maintain gun sale records. There are no consumer safety standards on guns. There are no limitations on “junk handguns,” nor are background checks required on “private” gun sales. Cities may not enact laws stronger than the state's. Not all guns are registered with law enforcement. Safety training is not required by handgun buyers, and there is no a waiting period on gun sales."

Get the Story:
COLUMNIST DORREEN YELLOW BIRD : Time to tighten N.D.'s gun-control laws (The Grand Forks Herald 5/3)
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