created Friday, 2012-12-28 T 16:56:21Z
updated Saturday, 2012-12-29 T 23:10:53Z
Context
For some context, see
"USA's gun problem isn't a gun control problem",
in which I question the effectiveness of more restrictive gun access without
changing our society's attitudes towards guns & safety.
Change our attitude about guns & safety
Let's change our society's attitude towards guns & safety. Oh,
& people also need to learn that discussion & useful decision
are impeded when people go emotionally ballistic when gun access is
questioned. It'll take a generation or two to reach that level of
maturity, but only then can our society have a useful discussion about
guns.
We must learn to question our assumptions & laws. Ask questions
like these:
Why do we have rampage killers?
Are they an inevitable consequence of legal access to guns?
Of a particular level of legal access to guns?
Is it possible to have guns & have no rampage killers at
all?
Why do we have the gun-related laws that we do?
Why is a certain kind of gun legal? What are the beneficial uses
of that kind of gun?
Why is a certain kind of gun illegal? Who is afraid that
someone will get it & do what with it?
Is the increased safety of a gun in my home greater than the
increased risk of accident?
Assuming it's legal to do so, am I safer if I carry a concealed
weapon?
Assuming it's legal to do so, am I safer if other people carry
concealed weapons?
How do guns keep the people safe from foreign invaders? What is the
likelihood that it'll be used in that capacity?
How do guns keep the people safe from the government?
Are legally available guns effective against soldiers wearing body
armor?
Are they effective against soldiers with rocket launchers, &
the other tools of modern warfare?
Against armored tanks?
Against drones?
If my government becomes a police state, will I have the
opportunity to use my guns against the soldiers, or will the
government use other means to eliminate me?
Are there methods other than guns to ensure safety?
After becoming comfortable with questions like these & their
answers, we can discuss guns & safety rationally. Teach children to
ask those questions often, & maybe their children will have a useful
discussion about what level of gun access will get our society to where
we want it to be.