RE: Gun control
October 3, 2013 at 4:20 pm
(This post was last modified: October 3, 2013 at 4:20 pm by Chas.)
Yes, thoughtful post, TBD.
We (TBD and I) have made several attempts to discuss gun control on another forum, but it always seems to get derailed by extremists on both ends of the spectrum.
Having a thoughtful, polite, constructive discussion has been difficult.
Neither TBD nor I is extremely anti- or pro-gun. We have tried to explore what can be done to reduce gun violence.
I am a gun owner, have been for 35 years. I have a concealed carry permit, and I sometimes carry a gun.
I have had firearms training, I store my firearms securely, I handle them safely.
On a practical basis, anything we do must account for the reality that we are not going to be able to make guns disappear in the U.S. There are about 300,000,000 in private ownership.
My basic position on the approaches to the problem are in general agreement with TBD's, with some real differences.
But the problem is not guns, per se, it is violence.
The underlying problems are poverty, ignorance, and mental health.
The largest steps we can take to reduce gun violence are social: mental health care, equitable opportunity for education and employment.
There should also be more rational firearms laws. Banning "assault weapons" is not constructive. The federal "assault weapons" ban did nothing to reduce gun violence.
We (TBD and I) have made several attempts to discuss gun control on another forum, but it always seems to get derailed by extremists on both ends of the spectrum.
Having a thoughtful, polite, constructive discussion has been difficult.
Neither TBD nor I is extremely anti- or pro-gun. We have tried to explore what can be done to reduce gun violence.
I am a gun owner, have been for 35 years. I have a concealed carry permit, and I sometimes carry a gun.
I have had firearms training, I store my firearms securely, I handle them safely.
On a practical basis, anything we do must account for the reality that we are not going to be able to make guns disappear in the U.S. There are about 300,000,000 in private ownership.
My basic position on the approaches to the problem are in general agreement with TBD's, with some real differences.
But the problem is not guns, per se, it is violence.
The underlying problems are poverty, ignorance, and mental health.
The largest steps we can take to reduce gun violence are social: mental health care, equitable opportunity for education and employment.
There should also be more rational firearms laws. Banning "assault weapons" is not constructive. The federal "assault weapons" ban did nothing to reduce gun violence.
Skepticism is not a position; it is an approach to claims.
Science is not a subject, but a method.
Science is not a subject, but a method.
