The Fallacy of Arming Up

[marmar]

from Consortium News:


The Fallacy of Arming Up
January 1, 2013

Easy civilian access to powerful weapons is a recipe for greater domestic violence, just as an over-emphasis on military force leads to more wars, a conundrum that requires a greater commitment to both arms control and systems for resolving disputes peacefully, observes Lawrence S. Wittner.

Lawrence S. Wittner


In a number of ways, gun control issues are remarkably similar to arms control issues. People who favor gun control argue that the availability of guns facilitates the use of these weapons for murderous purposes. Arms controllers make much the same case, asserting that weapons buildups lead to arms races and wars.

Both stress the imperative of weapons controls in an era of growing technological sophistication, pointing out that assault weapons sharply increase dangers domestically, just as nuclear, chemical and biological weapons increase the dangers of a holocaust globally.

Weapons enthusiasts have also adopted a common approach. The National Rifle Association insists that weapons are harmless. According to the NRA, “people” are the problem, which can be solved by “good guys” using guns to intimidate or kill “bad guys.”

Adopting much the same position, the military-industrial complex and its fans contend that the United States is the “good guy” and needs superior armaments to deter or destroy the “bad guys” or the “bad” countries. ...........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://consortiumnews.com/2013/01/01/the-fallacy-of-arming-up/

[xchrom]

1. du rec. nt

[bongbong]

2. Fear based weapon desire

As the fear level of the Delicate Flowers increases, their hunger for more deadly-looking and deadly-performing guns (their Precious) increases.

[lastlib]

3. As long as the NRA is around to feed their paranoia.....

the gun fanatics' lust for the biggest and baddest will continue unabated. We as a society must draw the line; an arms race is never the answer, as it only feeds the beast.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

4. right on

Easy civilian access to powerful weapons is a recipe for greater domestic violence, just as an over-emphasis on military force leads to more wars, a conundrum that requires a greater commitment to both arms control and systems for resolving disputes peacefully, observes Lawrence S. Wittner.