The FAST Approaching Gun Ban

[trish]

If the status of the Second Amendment is fait accompli then why does the NRA feel the need to spend so much time, money and effort on the issue? There are a lot of things that won't be changing anytime soon (e.g. tax exemption for Churches), but public opinion on guns is definitely in flux. It used to be that nearly 50% of households had a hunter who owned a rifle or two. That number is way down. There are more firearms in the U.S. today than ever before, their ownership is concentrated to way fewer households.

[buttslinger]

I don't have the facts and figures on whether or not gun ownership is good or bad for the American way of life. But I'm sure TEAM OBAMA has.
The reason the ONE PERCENT is the ONE PERCENT is because they were the most motivated players on the free trade field. They used every advantage they had. They made it happen. If the ANTI-NRA folks want to have their way, they're going to have to get off their asses and make it happen. If the Indians want to change the name of the Washington Redskins, let them take their casino money and buy the team.
Free Speech=Talk is Cheap.

[trish]

The reason the ONE PERCENT is the ONE PERCENT is because they were the most motivated players on the free trade field. They used every advantage they had.

and they had every inheritable advantage (which doesn't necessarily entail they were the most motivated, or had the best ideas or are in any measurable way the most deserving).

[AshlynCreamher]

Isn't this a tautology? It's also the case that all accidental shootings involving guns involve accidental interactions between people and guns.

It's like all accidental deaths with cars involve accidental interactions between people and cars

Should we start banning cars?

[trish]

No, but we should of course regulate them. Make laws about who can drive them. Make people take periodic tests. Renew their licenses. Outlaw cars that a dangerous. Make people wear safety belts. Hire police to closely monitor their use on the public highways. Fine people who speed, drive recklessly, etc. We should do this not because all accidental deaths with cars involve accidental interactions between people and cars (because that would be true even if there were zero motor accidents). We should do it because there are an inordinate number of motor accidents every year that can be prevented by the appropriate regulation.

Still, why do you think its so interesting that 99.9% of all gun crimes are committed by criminals? Isn't the number 100%? Isn't it just a tautology? Surely the relevant fact here is that there are a hell of a lot of gun crimes committed every year and a hell of a lot of accidental shootings and a hell of a lot of suicides committed with guns...all of which can be minimized with the appropriate regulation.

[martin48]

It's like all accidental deaths with cars involve accidental interactions between people and cars

Should we start banning cars?

We should ban concealed cars. Someone can suddenly pull a car out and drive it at you

[Ben in LA]

No, but we should of course regulate them. Make laws about who can drive them. Make people take periodic tests. Renew their licenses. Outlaw cars that a dangerous. Make people wear safety belts. Hire police to closely monitor their use on the public highways. Fine people who speed, drive recklessly, etc. We should do this not because all accidental deaths with cars involve accidental interactions between people and cars (because that would be true even if there were zero motor accidents). We should do it because there are an inordinate number of motor accidents every year that can be prevented by the appropriate regulation.

Still, why do you think its so interesting that 99.9% of all gun crimes are committed by criminals? Isn't the number 100%? Isn't it just a tautology? Surely the relevant fact here is that there are a hell of a lot of gun crimes committed every year and a hell of a lot of accidental shootings and a hell of a lot of suicides committed with guns...all of which can be minimized with the appropriate regulation.

..........

[buttslinger]

The solution is realizing there is no solution. There are millions of Americans who have absolutely no business owning a gun, or driving a car, or having children. Add booze to that equation, and try and litigate that mess. A perfect society would have to begin with taking away people's money and freedom.

[trish]

Of course there's no perfect society where all accidents are prevented all crimes are subverted. If that's the problem of course there's no solution. But that's the problem you continue to pose. More practical people seek ways to optimize our current practices to mitigate and minimize undesired outcomes. There are scores of solutions. We brought traffic deaths down over the past decade or two. We can easily do the same with gun deaths.

[buttslinger]

Just make sure you're not robbing Peter to pay Paul. Today's cars drive like sewing machines, it cost me 800 bucks to change the starter! That may be safer than a V-8 and 75mph speed limits, but it's also testicle shrinking. If you castrated all the men, the world would be a safer place.

“Help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered.” -Bob Barker