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Date Posted: 10:00:36 04/25/03 Fri
Author: Khronos
Author Host/IP: ip-66-80-65-31.dsl.sea.megapath.net / 66.80.65.31
Subject: Re: I assume you're talking about me... (or # 3)
In reply to: Gwydion 's message, "Re: I'm not anti-gun, but..." on 08:57:37 04/25/03 Fri

You, Tone, and Gecko, and some others (I have a bad habit of letting the various forums I post to run together in my head). I believe you all are responsible people. The kind of people that I think are good gun owners. But what I'm taking acception to is what I see as a short sightedness in your arguments/positions. Certainly no one is arguing that firearms don't have intrinsic utilitarian and asthetic value, also I hear everyone acknowledging the dangers inherent in firearms. This is good. The problem is where is this stance taking us as a society?

I also question whether or not firearms are the sole source for the value they provide. Following the logic of an armed society I wonder if we couldn't do it better utilizing all of the technology at our disposal?

A gun's value is it's ability to kill with relative ease. That makes it an equalizer. A small woman is suddenly the match of a large man (or group of men), etc. But couldn't such an end be achieved in other ways? Say an implanted device in the carotid artery in every person (maybe the aorta, but which would insure unconscienceness faster?). A touch of a button ruptures the artery thereby insuring almost instantanious death. The ease of activating this device should be simple and accessable to everyone. Imagine the soccial dynamic that would insue if we all held this power over each other? Crime would certainly be a much more risky endeavor. Corrupt politicians, and other public figures may not want to do their thing. Perhaps this would be the means to a truly egalitarian society?

I agree I'm being rediculous, but no less so than those who cling to the notion the the solution to society's problems are to bequeth to us all essentially the same power through firearms.

As to the question about being a good father and husband...

I live in a medium sized town. I read the paper. The paper loves to print sories about people protecting themselves with guns. It makes everyone feel good to hear about bad guys that get their just desserts at the hands of a wounded populous. So whenever it happens it makes it in the paper. In the past year (this is just off the top of my head) I recall about an equal number of people using their guns to protect themselves as accidental deaths resulting from people with guns in their homes (kids blowing each other's heads off, grown ups cleaning supposedly empty guns, etc.). For me that statistic (unscientific as it is) is very telling. As a parent my worst fear is that something will happen to one of my boys. The thought of them (6 and 3) getting one of my guns terrifies me. I know what they would do. They'd play with it (my oldest might not, but I'm not willing to put him to that test). They know I'll beat the hell out of them if they did, but the enticement of a real gun would probably be too much for them to handle. If only just to look at it. I really don't know how a person can live with themself if they knew they were responsible for their child's death? Is this a solution we simply can't survive without?

I know the bit about those willing to sacrifice freedom aren't worthy of it in the first place, but dammit, some things are just too much? It beats me about which way we ought to go?

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