General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: What is the function of a gun? [View all]Tommy_Carcetti
(43,232 posts)You're saying that it's not a gun problem, but a "gun misuse" problem, but if the "gun misuse" problem is directly attributable to situations where way too many people are in situations where they could or do misuse their guns, what exactly is the difference? What is a "gun misuse" problem but for the gun? Why does this misuse problem exist here but apparently not in places like Canada or the UK?
Your problem, down to your very DU signature line, is that you're still subscribing to the whole "good guy with a gun" myth, that someone who acquires their guns legally and with legitimate intentions will never, ever misuse it for criminal or nefarious purposes. In fact, however, there are many examples to the contrary. A gun is a killing machine, designed with that as a primary purpose. So killing a person, even when justified, certainly falls within its intended use. The problem being is, what's justified and what's not justified has become so subjective, arbitrary and nebulous that whether the gun is being used or misused becomes a matter seemingly determined by the person using it. It's a lot more power and weight that most people are used to handling, and as a result you see the result. Throw in a society like the US that currently has a very favorable, permissive attitude towards guns, and you're going to proportionally see a lot more bloodshed.
Even if you're willing to write it off as a freak "shit happens" occurrence. Which even though you've expressly denied such an attitude, your entire "99.9%" position screams it for you.