This is indeed an important point to make, and I'd never considered it -- thank you. While I think background checks should be mandatory on all gun purchases, I

This is indeed an important point to make, and I'd never considered it -- thank you. While I think background checks should be mandatory on all gun purchases, I would agree that as a citizen, to support the second amendment, gun purchasers should not have to pay for these background checks and licenses entirely themselves. This is a time when, though it might not be my personal taste, I believe that a portion of taxes should go to either subsidies or the elimination of fees for these sort of checks. Such a program would ensure that gun owners chip in (through their taxes), and that a portion of everyone's taxes would be used to ensure both safer gun record keeping and the ability of gun ownership & transfers. I know nobody likes the idea of more taxes, but does this seem an equitable solution? Interested in your opinion.