The Soapbox

Joined: 01/04/2001 Posts: 26971
Likes: 34214

What's this?

It's the wrong question to ask if we're thinking about it constructively.

Proponents of gun control (almost none of whom are proponents of gun prohibition) have their issue highlighted by dramatic news stories about guns, which tend to be about mass shootings. But their views on things like universal background checks, age restrictions, banning high capacity mags and assault style rifles didn't suddenly spring from mass shootings. And the only ones claiming it will "end" mass shootings are gun control opponents, because of course it sets up their perfect "gotcha" moment, when inevitably a mass shooting follows implementation of some restrictions.

The whole issue is more about common sense. Gun violence all around, which is almost entirely confined to instances we never hear about. A small fraction of overall US gun deaths occur in mass shootings.

Just because a would be school shooter may in fact find a way to get a gun, there is no non-political logic that says "well then we should just leave everything as it was and make it easy for sub-21 year old psychos to get them legally, no questions, no delays".

My point isn't that one has to agree with some or any gun control, if that's your honest view. But this is just bullshit from people who want to set up anything in the direction of gun control to fail. Next mass shooting, we'll just claim it as proof that "it doesn't work". No different from all the comparisons you see to Prohibition, against which there is almost no valid comparison, because nobody wants to ban guns; nobody wants to take existing guns and smash them to bits in the streets (which happened at the start of Prohibition with liquor). The righty echo chamber just wants to conjure that image.

Summary - I agree. Gun control will not end mass shootings. Maybe it will put a dent in our national love affair with guns. Maybe that will save people in less spectacular fashion. And just maybe, over time, mass shootings will in fact become rare in the US. So, in the non-political world of rational thought and logic, this would not even be a relevant point of discussion.

(In response to this post by MassHoleHoo)

Posted: 03/21/2018 at 12:28PM

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Current Thread:

Will gun control work? -- MassHoleHoo 03/21/2018 07:41AM

Counter-arguments -- HoosWillWin 03/21/2018 3:14PM

It's the wrong question to ask if we're thinking about it constructively. -- hoolstoptheheels 03/21/2018 12:28PM

No one has suggested "we should just leave everything as it was and make -- Hokie5150 03/21/2018 12:39PM

It's not an "either/or" proposition. -- hoolstoptheheels 03/21/2018 1:03PM

Agreed. I get so tired of that deliberate distraction. ** -- HoosWillWin 03/21/2018 3:09PM

Just don't look to the NRA for common sense. -- Shenhoo 03/21/2018 10:51AM

I know you love your polls when they tell you what you like, but what does -- Hoodafan 03/21/2018 11:18AM

I think it means candidates can soon tie the NRA around the necks of the -- Shenhoo 03/21/2018 11:21AM

Facts and reality be damned. As long as you win, right Harry Reid? ** -- Hoodafan 03/21/2018 11:40AM

Don't worry. I won't go PIzzagate on ya. -- Shenhoo 03/21/2018 12:24PM

Did prohibition work? ** -- ConnHoo 03/21/2018 10:13AM

Does border patrol work? ** -- DanTheFan 03/21/2018 10:37AM

It does in Israel -- ConnHoo 03/21/2018 1:42PM

False comparison on many levels. ** -- Chuck Taylor 03/21/2018 10:35AM

Why can't we ban cars? Lots of people die in auto accidents. ** -- WahooRQ 03/21/2018 10:17AM

Dumbest argument I ever heard. Cars aren't designed for killing ** -- hokeyhokie 03/21/2018 10:29AM

That actually makes it worse. ** -- ryno hoo 03/21/2018 10:53AM

True, but more than 10 times as many teens are killed by distracted driving -- Hokie5150 03/21/2018 10:39AM

Unsafe cars are made safer through liability and govt action -- hokeyhokie 03/21/2018 10:54AM

Car makers are not held accountable for the illegal actions of their users. -- Hokie5150 03/21/2018 11:20AM

If Ford made a vehicle with a bumper than extended out -- BocaHoo91 03/21/2018 11:31AM

Ok... ** -- Hokie5150 03/21/2018 1:11PM

Would you be OK if ford designed a car specifically designed to -- BocaHoo91 03/21/2018 1:56PM

Damn. Good idea. Just drive right up to the campfire and -- Shenhoo 03/21/2018 12:25PM

But is thair a GAWD GIVUN RAAHHHT to drive a car without a seatbelt? ** -- WahooRQ 03/21/2018 10:55AM

Or, ban guns from cars. ** -- Guy LeDouche 03/21/2018 10:50AM

We need to ban showers too. People slip in showers and die, and that makes -- WahooRQ 03/21/2018 10:53AM

And opioids ** -- Lupos 03/21/2018 10:58AM

Yes, everywhere but the US ** -- NJHoo 03/21/2018 09:28AM

All valid points, but I wish guys like this would spend some time on what -- Hoodafan 03/21/2018 09:25AM

Didn't read it, but that is the gun industry/NRA's sole mission in life. -- WahooRQ 03/21/2018 09:55AM

WADR maybe read the article before dismissing it out of hand and denying -- Hoodafan 03/21/2018 10:05AM

I glanced at it -- seen all these talking points before. Nothing remotely -- WahooRQ 03/21/2018 10:15AM

Perhaps your "glance" missed this point... -- Hokie5150 03/21/2018 10:41AM

Like I said, fun with numbers bullshit. I have no interest in going down -- WahooRQ 03/21/2018 10:43AM

You have no interest in facts...as you've proven time and time again. ** -- Hokie5150 03/21/2018 11:21AM

Repeal 2A and confiscate, it's that simple. ** -- Lupos 03/21/2018 11:02AM

No need for either, although I'd be more than fine repealing the 2A if that -- WahooRQ 03/21/2018 11:41AM

Honestly, I don't think anything meaningful will every be done with respect -- BocaHoo91 03/21/2018 12:15PM

I don't think it will talk that long. The moment (which is nearing -- Shenhoo 03/21/2018 12:27PM

I hope you're right, but it's hard for me to see a 2/3 majority -- BocaHoo91 03/21/2018 12:43PM

Better likelihood of a future court reading out the individual right -- WahooRQ 03/21/2018 2:48PM

Good luck with that... ** -- Hokie5150 03/21/2018 11:36AM

Real simple... ** -- hoothat 03/21/2018 11:13AM

I don't disagree, nor even with a ban of some sort being part of the -- Hoodafan 03/21/2018 10:40AM

"Since we can't come up with a perfect solution, let's do nothing." -- HowieT3 03/21/2018 09:20AM

Not sure I agree with your start, but you're right about needing bit-by-bit -- Freddyburg Hokie 03/22/2018 11:47AM

I agree - it is an all or nothing ** -- FfxStationHokie 03/21/2018 09:35AM

Similar to the immigration debate...all my way (on both sides) or no deal ** -- Tuckahokie 03/21/2018 09:24AM

Addressing our gun culture is part of a solution, yes ** -- hokeyhokie 03/21/2018 08:09AM

Was on-line last night shopping for a bump stock for my muzzle-loader and -- Tuckahokie 03/21/2018 08:05AM