A Modest Gun Regulation Proposal

Posted on March 4, 2016 by markinaustin

A state could require that all guns sold in the state be tested for ballistics and that the ballistics files be kept in a central registry, along with the names and addresses of the seller and purchaser.  The state would nominate the NRA as its trustee to hold the registry, which would be private, and could only be opened for comparison analysis on a warrant issued to a police agency that has obtained ballistics from a crime scene it wishes to match to the registry.

 

This would grow into an effective crime clue generating tool over time, without infringing on any citizen’s 2d A rights.

 

It would reach peak effectiveness when every state adopted the plan and all the unregistered Saturday Night Specials that are on the streets of Baltimore, Chicago, NewOrleans, Philly, etc.,  break down and are replaced by registered guns whose ballistics have been tested.

 

This would not stop crazy shooters or even ordinary criminals.  It would make it easier to track them down after the fact.

 

I think it is a modest proposal, that keeps government out of handling the records, that puts an organization that can be trusted to keep privacy absent a warrant in charge of maintaining the registry.  But it would eventually be useful in catching criminals, and perhaps would cause some persons to think twice before shooting.  Or not.

 

 

 

Filed under: guns, Open Thread | 40 Comments »

Morning Report: Mixed jobs report 3/4/16

Posted on March 4, 2016 by Brent Nyitray

Stocks are flattish after the jobs report. Bonds and MBS are down.

Jobs report data dump:

  • Nonfarm payrolls +242k
  • Unemployment rate 4.9%
  • Average hourly earnings -0.1%
  • Labor force participation rate 62.9%
  • Average weekly hours 34.4

Overall, an okay report: payrolls were better than expected, but hourly earnings disappoint. The increase in the labor force participation rate is a good thing to see. While it will depress wage growth at least initially, it will make for a stronger economy down the road. FWIW, there may be measurement issues regarding the wage measure that will supposedly be unwound in the next report.

Bonds sold off on the jobs report, with the 10 year and the 2 year bond yields up 3 basis points. I doubt this report will change any minds with regard to the March FOMC meeting, which most people seem to think will have no move in rates and hawkish language.

More evidence of wage inflation: Costco is upping the lower end of their wage scale from $11.50 to $13.00. They announced it on their earnings conference call last night. This will hit their earnings per share by about 1.3% over the next year. Competition for workers is becoming more intense as unemployment stays below 5%.

Filed under: Economy, Morning Report | 85 Comments »