The thread about the recent IHOP shooting got me thinking: should it be legal for foreign nationals to own and carry guns?
Under current law, as long as they are in the process of becoming a citizen (have a green card, will naturalize in five years), establish residency in a state, pass the background check, they can buy guns. It doesn't look like there is a clause that excludes them from Indiana LTCH if they meet the criteria above.
It seems to me there are many ways to look at it. Let me suggest a few:
- The principle of self-protection. Foreigners living in the US deserve to be able to protect themselves as much as Americans do, as long as they abide by the law. So green card holders obviously should be allowed to buy and carry firearms. What's more, foreign students and others on temporary visas need to protect themselves against criminals also, so let's expand the current law to include most foreign nationals on US soil, again, as long as they abide by the law.
- The principle of citizenship. Gun ownership is a privilege of US citizens. Foreign nationals shouldn't have this privilege, because they are not covered under 2A. Sorry, green card holders, go buy life insurance instead.
- Status quo. The logic is that is you are on track to become a citizen, then you can exercise the privileges of citizenship. We like the law as it is.
What do you think? Please vote and state your reasons! Thanks.
Da Bing
Under current law, as long as they are in the process of becoming a citizen (have a green card, will naturalize in five years), establish residency in a state, pass the background check, they can buy guns. It doesn't look like there is a clause that excludes them from Indiana LTCH if they meet the criteria above.
It seems to me there are many ways to look at it. Let me suggest a few:
- The principle of self-protection. Foreigners living in the US deserve to be able to protect themselves as much as Americans do, as long as they abide by the law. So green card holders obviously should be allowed to buy and carry firearms. What's more, foreign students and others on temporary visas need to protect themselves against criminals also, so let's expand the current law to include most foreign nationals on US soil, again, as long as they abide by the law.
- The principle of citizenship. Gun ownership is a privilege of US citizens. Foreign nationals shouldn't have this privilege, because they are not covered under 2A. Sorry, green card holders, go buy life insurance instead.
- Status quo. The logic is that is you are on track to become a citizen, then you can exercise the privileges of citizenship. We like the law as it is.
What do you think? Please vote and state your reasons! Thanks.
Da Bing