Debate about Gun Control

[Eric the Green]

(07-07-2016, 01:33 PM)Bob Butler 54 Wrote:

(07-07-2016, 11:57 AM)Eric the Green Wrote: Gun control is not prohibition, and gun control advocates are not advocating prohibition of civilian guns.

Well, I don't think you are Noah Webster, nor an official representative of the Dictionary Police.  If you are advocating that possession and use of something be prohibited by the government, you are by definition advocating a prohibition.  The root word is the same.  More important, there are practical implementation problems with prohibitions.  These shouldn't be ignored or glossed over.  In general, the prohibition of mind altering substances has resulted in massive and often violent criminal behavior that the government struggles to keep in check.  I have no reason to expect anything different if other things are prohibited.

Dictionary police at your service.

I don't think the DMV is prohibiting cars by denying a license to my 90-year old Mom who could no longer drive without bumping into things, nor by prohibiting ownership of loaded tanks by individuals. Nor is it prohibition for gun control to deny a license to possess and use a gun if you are a criminal or insane or on a terror watch list, or to deny individuals ownership of military weapons.

Quote:I see reviewing and respecting both sides of a question to be a feature rather than a bug.  I guess if I followed up on that, I'd have to review and respect partisan thinking as well.  There are times when it is appropriate to go partisan, when the other guy is wrong and dangerously wrong.  My father's generation was quite partisan in their attitudes about Hitler, for example.  Even then, it doesn't hurt to understand how and why he managed to gather a following.  Even if one can in no way tolerate a particular set of values, it is prudent to understand them.

Understanding is possible and valuable.