Lumpy wrote:Is there really any effective way to (nearly) eliminate the occasional spree shooting without more or less banning guns altogether? Because here's the problem: the antis basically say that this should never happen, ever- anymore than children should ever be killed or injured by pet wolverines, which doesn't actually happen because it's illegal to keep wolverines as pets. That's how the antis see guns: a pointless, needlessly hazardous thing that is unjustifiable and should be illegal. They don't care how many lawful, responsible wolverine owners there are, or the legitimate reasons for keeping pet wolverines, or how statistically rare wolverine attacks are; they want a rate of zero.
Yes, the above is a bit tongue-in-cheek, exaggerated to make a point. But substitute "pit bull" for wolverine and you doubtless see the analogy: many people in fact think pit bulls should be illegal. Coming back to my original question, part of why I'm discouraged is because if the only counter-arguments I can put forward amount to saying "the occasional pet wolverine attack is regrettable but unavoidable", then I've lost the debate.
The problem is you are arguing an argument that you can never win. It is well documented, as you stated, that there are those on the left (I would assert most) feel that ALL guns should be banned. So they do not come to the argument with a truthful position. They look at, as stated last night by the dem on the stage, that if they start with the first 200, then they can move on to the others. This was not hid, it was stated, the first 200 is only a start. So if they truly want all guns banned, and we are not willing to give in to that, there really is not compromise that can be reached. I have stated my position above. I am sorry this happened. I truly am, I wish I could prevent it, but I can't. What I can do is offer solutions that would increase school security, increase student safety, increase student participation in society, etc. I can help. If they want to take guns from law abiding citizens to try to feel like they accomplished something they did not, I can not and will not support that as that will not achieve their end goal and WILL cause more death to others. Because where does it stop? We have instances where police have used guns and innocent or presumed innocent people have died. So after we ban my guns, should we disarm the police? I mean guns are illegal right? So why do they need guns?