How NOT to argue for gun control

[hekidanjo]

I see the gun control crowd was out early, hoping that the fresh wounds would give them momentum. I won't argue that decision but I am continually annoyed that they choose the specious arguments instead of laying out their goals in a straightforward way. I'm going to disavow people of those talking points

Comments

[champagnexdream]

To be 100% honest, I think on the whole Americans are too stupid, selfish, and lazy to be trusted with guns, period - which is why the whole "Look at X country!" doesn't really fly with me. We're kind of assholes. A woman on my FB was like LOOK AT SWITZERLAND! I was like oh, the neutral fucking country who has super strict training and shit from the time you're born? That Switzerland? JFC.

The few apples who spoil the whole bunch are seriously potent enough for me to truly consider gun banning. I cannot deal with effing groups of children being shot up. Moral reasons you should be allowed to carry aside, it is just not OK.

[hekidanjo]

I agree with you on the root of the problem. We are some fully entitled rage machines. Weaned on hate and violence that's reinforced with a frightening efficiency.

I'll hazard that being part of the "gun culture," being well trained in the safe use of guns, having many friends who are similar, being a hunter, having drawn a weapon to defend myself (zero shots fired) has given me a different perspective. I've seen the good that can come from firearms and I've yet to see that anything evidence that banning short of divine intervention to make them all vanish would help at this point. I think that's why I even bother to argue the point: I don't want to see this ever happen again, neither do any gun owners I've ever met. I'm not above concessions; let's talk locks, safes, background checks, training, evaluations, accounting trails for ammo, smart guns...let's find something that really works at keeping people safe.