Reply #421: Clear as mud [View All]

[Sparkly]

So if anybody says "gun control," certain gun owners freak out and think it's the same as "gun ban."

If the word "reasonable" is added (as in, "No, no, we're not talking about taking your guns away, we're talking about reasonable gun control"), certain guns owners freak out and say, "You're implying I'm not reasonable!" (So that's why they think it means a gun ban...?)

If the word "legislation" comes in, it's too vague. If the legislation is spelled out, that's too vague. Certain gun-owners think the legal definition for banned assault weapons is too vague, but never offered re-writes -- because to them, changing legislation means "MORE legislation" and they say we don't need that. (So does that explain why they think control means a total gun ban?)

Gunshow loopholes, child access prevention laws, safety standards, locks, strengthening the background check system, ensuring people who own firearms know how to use them and store them, strenthening law enforcement -- these can't even be discussed, proposed, tweaked, modified, worked or reworked because even breathing a hint of them makes some gun owners FEEL emotionally upset. The rhetoric of this thread is steaming with fear and anger (almost as if we were talking about a total gun ban).

As far as women's reproductive choices, the law DOES impose what society considers "reasonable restrictions" there. Women can't have an abortion past viability, for example.

There are reasonable restrictions on most rights. You have the right to property, but not by stealing it. You have the right to speak, but not to slander. You can use dangerous equipment, including cars, but only when you've shown you know how. And laws are continually revised -- which isn't called "MORE legislation" except when it comes to guns.

The problem as I see it is that when it comes to guns, some people focus on THEIR rights alone, and there's a great deal of fear involved. The issues of public safety -- the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness -- are vigorously pushed aside. The government has an interest in public safety in every other area and it's accepted, EXCEPT when it comes to guns.

I still do not understand why certain gun-owners' minds make the leap of logic to consider "gun control" equivalent to complete "gun ban." That's what I said I don't understand and that's still what I don't understand.