Cigarettes are legal but are highly regulated.

[yellerpup]

If we can make laws to regulate legal substances, like tobacco for instance, and keep tobacco out of schools, public places, workplace and even bars because second hand smoke is dangerous to others, surely we can create sensible gun laws.

[Eleanors38]

1. Cigarettes are not protected in the Constitution.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

4. Dumbest. Post. Ever.

Your right to associate (with other smokers) is also protected in the Constitution, and it's still regulated.

You don't have an absolute right to own absolutely any weapon and to wield it in absolutely anyway that you want in absolutely any location.

[yellerpup]

8. You are opposed to any regulation of firearms?

Yours is the dumbest post ever.

[green for victory]

10. "You don't have an absolute right to own absolutely any weapon and to...

...wield it in absolutely anyway that you want in absolutely any location."- Jeff

Could you point me to a post here that states, or even infers the opposite? Or any (reasonable) site where anyone asserts that?

I think there's a psychological term for this kind of "debate"...

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

14. You haven't visited the Gun Dungeon, have you...

What I was replying to was a post that stated that the government can't regulate guns because they're protected by the Constitution.

I think there's a psychological term for people who enable massacres of children.

[Eleanors38]

16. Your response is not very smart, bud...

Cigarettes and cig smoking is in fact NOT protected in the Constitution, that is why it has come under such prohibitionist-type regulation.

Gun keeping and bearing IS protected and falls under FAR fewer infringements. You got that?

If you wish to discuss this issue in a polite and respectful manner, we can.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

17. I'd like to discuss it in an intelligent manner

So if there's a grown up in your house, ask him or her to come to the keyboard.

I'm sick as hell of amateur constitutional scholars who can't understand the contents of a soup can label who think they're competent to interpret the judicial history of the second amendment.

[Eleanors38]

20. Well when you're ready to discuss, I'll round up my alter ego and have him fill in.

[darkangel218]

5. Thats because theyre not ( as ) useful ( as guns)

If they were they would be in the Constitution. That simple

[LTR]

2. So, I can't light a smoke in a bar...

...yet in my state, someone can walk into the same bar with a concealed weapon. Yeah, that makes no sense.

[yellerpup]

7. Thanks for understanding.

Guns in bars make no sense whatsoever.

[yellerpup]

6. The comparison I wanted to make is

how quickly laws can be changed when will is behind it. Comparing second hand smoke to gunshot wounds is ridiculous, and yet we are saved from second hand smoke and threatened with bloody death by bullets.

[Rex]

9. How does a gun protect the owner? Don't you have to pull it out and use it first?

They don't magically do anything, these guns. You have to do all the work.

[yellerpup]

15. I am sorry for what happened to you.

I identify with your feelings of defenselessness and vulnerability. My truth is that I bought a gun after I had been raped and several years later I was raped again at the point of my own gun. I found that carrying a gun over time made me sick with fear and was ultimately (2nd rape) useless for defense. I wish you peace of mind, peace of heart, and freedom from fear.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

13. There are still smoking in most bars, many bathrooms, and many public places

Understand your sentiments, but its not the right analogy

[LTR]

18. Quite a few states have banned smoking in bars and restaurants

And various public places. Mine included.

But hey, at least we just passed a concealed carry law.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

19. Good for both

Hopefully both are fully followed. The former rarely is.