Thanks, Forum Editor - I didn't think that you were serious. Link has been saved in my 'favorites'.I will keep it simple.

"I didn't think that you were serious."

Actually I didn't think you were serious Aitchbee. I don't think your plan could possibly work for all kinds of reasons. America doesn't have a Federal education system as such because of the tenth amendment to the constitution,which says that The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

It means that education policies are a matter for individual state governments.

Congress often tries to muscle individual States into complying with Federal policies or standards via a system that's known as 'cooperative federalism.' It has been used in education by offering federal funding to States for education, on condition that they toe the line as far as federal policies are concerned. It isn't always straightforward, and a scheme like yours would meet stiff opposition in grounds of cost - it would take a lot of money to set up and monitor; so much in fact that I doubt if it would even get past the starting post with Congress.

Think about it for a while and you'll realise that it would be incredibly costly, and an administrative nightmare,quite apart from depriving children of an essential part of growing up - school life is a very important aspect of developing social awareness and skills.

I know I'm digressing quite a bit, but talk of federal and state governments has me thinking about analogies to the european union setup, with the eu parliament and national governments.

I think it gives me an insight into why the federal government is so unpopular with some americans.

But as to gun control, perhaps simply a ban on breechloaders might prove effective? After all, muzzle loaders weree good enough for the founding fathers. But in a nod to progress since then, I would be willing to permit smokeless powder!:)

WTM

FE . I agree - see my comment of 11.07 am on 18 Dec on this thread:

Other Thread

I used to be "marksman" on Rifle, Bren,Sten and their successors. I found that a bolt action rifle was almost as effective, and maybe more accurate than an SLR, so the hunting lobby have no case for automatic or semi automatic weapons.However I would be surprised if even this small step gets through the US legislature.