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The Violence Stem
After the horror in Parkland, FL, there are the usual calls from the usual suspects to ban “assault rifles” and shut down the NRA; as if the NRA itself trained the murderer in how to kill innocents. Blaming the NRA for this mass murder is roughly equivalent to blaming the number of traffic deaths in the United States on the American Automobile Association: Both of them are membership organization built around the enjoyable and safe use of a particular piece of technology. No more, no less.
The problem happens when that particular piece of technology is used for evil and violent purposes, and this is true of gun and automobile alike. The technology is not the issue, the way it’s used to harm other people is the issue. To borrow from Bill Clinton: it’s the violence, stupid.
Let’s assume that violence is a drug (after all, it does have a serious effect on brain chemistry) and that America is addicted to violence. Not just any ol’ sort of violence, but rather, violence without any significant societal repercussions. We have too many young people today who view violence as a legitimate means to just about every end, and too many celebrities who think there should be no repercussions when they imply violence in their speech.
If so, then blaming murders on NRA members is like blaming the heroin problem on diabetics. Yes, both of those groups use needles, but they use them for very different purposes. If the violent use of a gun is the problem, shouldn’t we look at treating the causes of the addiction, the causes of the violence itself, and do so with the understanding that once we reduce the impact of that problem, the misuse of the paraphernalia will be reduced as well? Shouldn’t the same progressives who celebrate the legalization of marijuana and the creation of safe injection sites for heroin addicts see the futility of advocating for a ban on a very limited, very small type of paraphernalia? Just like medical marijuana, shouldn’t we celebrate the people who see the useful societal benefits of something that others think should be banned? Shouldn’t we treat the causes of the addiction first? Isn’t that’s what best for society?
I hope progressives will find an answer to these questions and find them soon.
Published in Guns
And kitchen knives, and hammers, and fists . . . even golf clubs – ask Tiger Woods.
Great analogy! I may steal it and use it as my own. Just kidding . . .
I hate to dash your hopes, but progressives already have the answer, starting with gun control and ending in gun confiscation. No, they don’t want real answers, and they’ll be damned if they let anyone implement real solutions for fear they’d work.
They would if they valued individual liberty and self government. Progressives, alas, value power above everything. And asserting power over an armed, sober populace is a lot tougher than asserting it over an unarmed, intoxicated one.
And a lot more dangerous, hence the efforts to disarm . . .
BREAKING NEWS
Progressives realize that even more “common sense” gun laws aren’t enough to stem the tide of bloodshed, and have decided no gun can go unpunished for the deeds of its brethren.
Henceforth, they request and require your immediate cooperation in making a pile of guns at your local county courthouse. Rest assured you will be compensated for the value of your guns in free vasectomies, morning after pills and tide pods.
Thank you for your cooperation.
I take heart at the fact that the most common formulation among lefties these days is to call for “common sense gun control measures.” They are afraid to call for total ban and confiscation, which is what they really want. At least the politicians are afraid, and without support from the politicians the anti-gun nuts aren’t going to get anywhere.
I believe the proper response to this tactic is to say, “Sure, I’ll support a ‘common sense’ measure, if you can show me how it would have prevented [whatever tragedy the lefties are using to drum up anti-gun sentiment].” It’s a great response because, of course, they don’t have any “common sense” measures, much less any that would have prevented the tragedy.
All Democrats are vague and uninformed when it comes to gun policy and they don’t care. Then throw in all of the Republicans that think an AR-15 is anything but an ordinary rifle.
Exactly. And we need to respond with questions that will reveal their ignorance.
That is frustrating. My wife (who is anything but a lefty) was convinced that the Florida shooter had used an automatic weapon. Because, you know, the media.
Republicans that don’t understand guns and gun policy need to shut up. Twitter has been just shocking in this sense.
I can’t remember a good third of it myself so I’m very careful about how I participate in these types of discussions. I find some of it quite difficult. The social statistics, the musket stuff, militias, etc.
It cannot be that we alone amongst industrialized countries must have semi-annual school shootings, mixed in with shootings in Las Vegas, and churches.
I am not willing to accept that. Come up with a solution that you can advocate oe live with, or be ready for one to be imposed on you.
They have to create “super courts” with the best judges, psychiatrists, social workers etc. Simultaneously intrusive and protective of constitutional rights. Extra supervised by the legislature and the public.
The government has to finance the care and supervision of wack jobs. This can’t be done by families, the community or private money and insurance.
If anyone can think of a better idea, have at it.
I am willing to accept being the only country that has shootings in Las Vegas.
As I said on Twitter, A “conversation” about guns implies a give and take. “I want these restrictions on you!” isn’t a conversation, it’s an edict. What current gun laws need to be relaxed to get those restrictions? If your answer is “none,” you’re telling me to obey you. Not interested.
After a mass shooting event, when gun control advocates propose legislation that would not have prevented the shooting they claim to be OUTRAGED over, it is an obvious demonstration they don’t actually care about finding ways to stop these events from happening. If after the next rainfall my ceiling is damaged by a roof leak I then demand the government paint my house, everyone would assume I am not serious about stopping the roof from leaking but just want my house painted. It’s the same with these gun control addicts.
Yes. This is a tactic that I call “vicarious terrorism.” A true terrorist does something horrible to make a political point. A vicarious terrorist waits for someone else to do something horrible, and uses that to make their political point.
Outrage makes it easier to manipulate the outraged, so there is an industry that manufactures it and makes every effort to keep us outraged. Facts have no place in the scenario.
We’ve got a random internet guy with an ultimatum, folks. Let’s see those solutions.
I got it! I have the solution: we teach people not to murder! I asked a third wave feminist for her ideas and she sold me this for twenty bucks. Let’s implement it immediately and pat ourselves on the back. Group hug everyone, we’ve solved the Mysterious Case of Too Many School Shootings.
This statement accepts the mischaracterization that “nothing is being done.” Lots of things are being done which is obvious if you compare walking into your local high school today vs 20 years ago. That’s not to say more can’t be done however. Actual effective ways to deal with this problem will be figured out by thoughtful, outside the box thinking, not hysterical politically driven emotional reactions