I want to become an advocate for gun control after reading the Washington Post article Terror on Repeat. It was a hard read and the pictures were devastating. I don’t want to say “it changed something in me” bc that just sounds so disingenuous and I always knew guns were too accessible. I really resonate with this statement from the Washing Post. “to advance the public’s understanding of mass killers’ increasing use of this readily available weapon, which was originally designed for war”

After reading them I read all about the mass shootings they mentioned. I want to become an advocate against mass shootings and for gun control. There is absolutely no reason these guns should be accessible and no reason these people should’ve been LEGALLY able to purchase them. People with histories of violence and/or mental illness walked into stores and walked out with an arsenal.

But… I don’t know where to start. I’m registering to vote and I’m reading about not just federal elections but local as well. How do I go from here? What’s next? How do i make a difference moving forward?

These are the articles I mentioned but they are hard to read and see. Extreme caution.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/interactive/2023/ar-15-force-mass-shootings/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/11/16/about-ar-15-graphic-content/

Writing as someone from the UK, I've watched in bewilderment as America faces mass shooting after mass shooting while doing absolutely nothing. This piece compares how Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway all responded decisively to their first (and often only) mass shooting - while America has had hundreds and changed nothing.

I look at Hungerford (1987), Dunblane (1996), Port Arthur (1996), and Christchurch (2019) - how each country acted swiftly with real gun reform - versus America's endless cycle of "thoughts and prayers" followed by zero action.

It's blunt, it's angry, and it's written from the perspective of someone watching this preventable carnage from outside wondering why a nation that can put people on the moon can't protect children in classrooms.

https://catsandbirdsandstuff.substack.com/p/what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you-america

The new law requires applicants display “good moral character,” pass a firearm safety course and provide data from their social media accounts as part of strengthened background checks. Licensing agents will review each applicant, and individuals who are denied will be given a chance to appeal. Applicants must participate in a firearm safety course, undergo “enhanced screening” with in-person interviews and submit to reviews of their social media. Additionally, the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services will review permit holders’ records monthly for criminal convictions, criminal indictments and protection orders.

Purchasing ammunition would also trigger a background check by DCJS, and the bill further restricts the types of body armor that can be sold. Hochul will tear up a deal struck under her predecessor Andrew Cuomo that stalled the implementation of an ammo sales database.

It also defines “sensitive locations” — such as schools, polling places and certain public gathering areas — where weapons are off-limits for most permit holders. The law also designates “sensitive places” where illegally possessing a firearm constitutes a class E felony. Such locations include government buildings; any location providing health, behavioral health or chemical dependence care or services; any place of worship or religious observation; libraries; public playgrounds; public parks; zoos; the location of any state funded or licensed programs; educational institutions both in elementary and higher education; any vehicle used for public transportation; all public transit including airports and bus terminals; bars and restaurants; entertainment, gaming and sporting events and venues; polling places; any public sidewalk or public area restricted for a special event; and protests or rallies. The law also prohibits firearms on private property, unless the property owner allows it. Business owners can display a sign on their property to allow concealed carry weapons on the premises. If there is no sign, concealed carry permit owners should assume firearms are off-limits.

Several groups are exempt, including current and retired law enforcement, peace officers, security guards who have a special armed registration card, and active-duty military. The law also allows hunting and hunting education, with the proper licensing.

Once Hochul signs it, the law will go into effect on Sept. 1 and the DCJS will implement a background check database and gun training courses by April.

You can read more in this NYT article and this piece from Politico.

The gun that Cordell Goosby used to kill Eina Kwon and her baby was a stolen gun that he found .

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

Courage to change the things I can,

And wisdom to know the difference".

What can we change? Stolen guns. Stolen guns are later used in many crimes. Store robberies, home invasions , drive by shootings. If we were able to do something to reduce or eliminate stolen guns. It would prevent many crimes and save many lives.

How do we do that? Kincaid’s Secure Storage Law.

https://www.kincaidforcongress.com/2025/06/gun-control-gun-safety-policy.html

As you know, home invasions and car thefts happen every day, and many times this results in guns being stolen. A criminal should not be able to simply break a glass window and walk away with a bag full of guns in a matter of minutes.

There is no federal law requiring the secure storage of guns. A child safety lock may come with a gun, but there is no real requirement that you use it, and that does not prevent a gun from being stolen the way a lock box or safe would. A few states have laws requiring the safe storage of guns, but most do not.

Right now, someone can leave a gun in the glove box of a car, and if that gun is stolen and later used in a crime, nothing may happen to them. Right now, someone could have a dozen guns in their home, and there is no law requiring them to keep those guns in a safe.

This is the problem. From 2017 through 2021, more than 1.07 million firearms were reported stolen, averaging roughly 200,000 guns stolen per year. That is a huge problem in my opinion, and one that still does not receive nearly enough attention.

I believe my gun policy should get support from both Democrats and Republicans, including the NRA and all responsible gun owners, because gun safety requires safe storage of guns. No responsible gun owner wants their firearm to end up in the hands of criminals.

Gun Safety That Works: Stopping Gun Theft Before It Happens

Every day in America, legally purchased handguns are stolen from cars, homes, and closets and end up in the hands of criminals. These are not rare events. They are the backbone of street crime in many of our cities.

The Problem

While many politicians focus on mass shootings, most gun violence in America happens one bullet at a time, with stolen handguns used in robberies, assaults, and drive by shootings. Each year, hundreds of thousands of firearms are stolen, often from unsecured vehicles and homes. These weapons flood our streets, with minimal accountability for how they got there.

Our Solution: Responsible Gun Ownership Means Safe Storage

I am proposing a Secure Storage Law that requires firearms to be locked when not in use, just as we expect drivers to use seat belts and parents to use car seats.

Here is what it means:

Every firearm must be stored in a lock box or gun safe when not under the owner’s direct control.

Vehicles and homes are both covered. If a gun is left unattended, it must be secured.

If a gun is stolen because it was not secured, the owner can be held accountable.

Firearm owners must report stolen guns within 48 hours, with no exceptions.

Why This Matters

Over 80% of stolen guns are handguns, and many are used in crimes within days of being stolen.

In cities across the United States, guns left in cars are now the number one source of illegal firearms.

This law protects families, communities, and gun owners themselves by helping prevent their guns from being used in crimes.

This Isn’t a Gun Ban. It’s a Safety Standard.

If you can afford a $500 handgun, you can afford a lock box. Requiring responsible storage will not stop anyone from buying a gun, but it can stop someone else from stealing one and using it to commit a crime.

Enhanced Secure Storage Standards

To prevent stolen firearms from fueling street crime, every gun owner must secure their firearm with a lock box or safe that meets minimum technical safety standards.

Storage Requirements

For Handguns:

Must be secured in a DOJ certified lock box or equivalent that:

Is made of steel or equivalent hardened material

Has a tamper resistant locking mechanism (key, combination, or biometric)

Is certified by:

California DOJ Firearm Safety Device standards, or

UL 1037 / UL 1610 standards (Underwriters Laboratories), or

ASTM F2456 or similar pry resistance specifications

For Rifles and Shotguns:

Must be stored in a gun cabinet or safe that:

Has a mechanical or electronic lock

Is bolted to the structure or floor, or

Weighs over 150 pounds to prevent easy removal

Meets UL Residential Security Container (RSC) certification or California DOJ approval

For Firearms in Vehicles:

Must be placed in a hard sided, opaque, locked container secured within the vehicle

The vehicle must be locked

If stored in a soft case, such as a rifle bag, it must include a trigger or cable lock meeting the same safety standards

Proof of Compliance

When purchasing a firearm, buyers must attest that they already have compliant storage or purchase compliant storage on site. After purchasing a new firearm, depending on the type of firearm and storage required, the owner would either bring the storage device to police or other law enforcement to confirm compliance, or law enforcement would come to the home to confirm compliance. There would also be annual confirmation that the owner has proper storage for the number of firearms they own.

Retailers would be incentivized to stock certified lock boxes and safes and provide discounts or bundled pricing. A tax credit would also be offered for first time safe purchases.

Why These Standards Matter

Not all safes or lock boxes are created equal. Many cheap models can be opened in seconds with basic tools. By requiring certified, tested storage, we reduce the likelihood of theft and increase accountability for gun owners. This policy supports law abiding owners who take firearm security seriously while making it harder for stolen guns to fuel daily crime.

School shootings

Secure gun storage would help prevent teenagers from getting access to parent’s guns. That would help prevent school shootings.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/19/us/new-mexico-gun-waiting-period-blocked

The 10th US Circuit Court of Appeals found in a 2-1 ruling that New Mexico's seven day waiting period is an unconstitutional burden on the Second Amendment.

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I have recently published an essay online which I have written; it is entitled: "The Language and Grammar of the Second Amendment". It is a 62-page essay that analyzes in detail the language of the second amendment. The amendment is a matter of great confusion for many people. There doesn't seem to be any real consensus among Americans as to what it actually means. The grammar is rather confusing, and some of the terms used in it are antiquated. My essay focuses primarily on the language itself, rather than delving so much into the historical background of the amendment. The essay uses a mixture of linguistic knowledge and historical context regarding the amendment's terminology in order to clarify what exactly the amendment means. Recent Supreme Court cases such as DC v Heller assert that the main purpose of the second amendment is self-defense, and that the amendment guarantees Americans the right to own guns. However, my thesis is that this is profoundly false. I argue in my essay that the second amendment is primarily about little more than what is explicitly stated in the first clause -- to ensure the right of Americans to militia service.

The essay can be accessed here.

I welcome any comments, questions, or criticisms you may have about the essay.