The Liberal Gun Club Forum

1. To begin with, some gun rights supporters just think that people should be free to choose what devices they own — whether self-defense devices or any other devices — unless there’s a very strong reason for restricting that liberty. If you think that a ban would save thousands of lives, that may qualify as a strong reason; but if you think that a ban would be ineffectual, then you can oppose it on basic liberty grounds.

2. Beyond this, as I’ve noted over the last two days — see the Violence Policy Center post and the Charles Krauthammer post — some supporters of gun bans have argued in favor of assault weapons bans precisely because they can help lead to broader bans (such as bans on handguns). If some of your opponents think a restriction is good because it will lead to something much broader, you might be forgiven for taking them at their word.

3. Moreover, consider the political question as dynamic, rather than static. People are worried about mass shootings, or street crime, or whatever else. Many people say, “We’ve got to do something — let’s ban assault weapons.” Critics argue, “Assault weapons bans won’t do any good.” The response: “We’ve got to do something!” And then an assault weapons ban is enacted.

Just don’t fault gun rights supporters for “paranoia” when the thing they fear is the very thing you’re trying to accomplish.

begemot wrote:No objections to the "slippery slope" argument? I'm shocked.

America's gun debate suffers because of unreasonable, extreme positions taken by the NRA. But gun control advocates who push for bans on one kind of rifle primarily because it looks scary also contribute to the problem. Such bans don't reduce gun crime, but they do stimulate passionate opposition from law-abiding gun owners: Gun control advocates ridicule the NRA's claim that the government is coming to take away people's guns, then try to outlaw perhaps the most popular rifle in the country. http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la ... story.html

unreasonable, extreme positions taken by the NRA

CDFingers wrote: What frosts my pumpkin is how disingenuous politicians are who focus on "guns" instead of real issues.

modernhamlet wrote:

unreasonable, extreme positions taken by the NRA

It'd be nice if he'd state those positions, wouldn't it?

1. People should be allowed to own guns.

PiratePenguin wrote:

modernhamlet wrote:

unreasonable, extreme positions taken by the NRA

It'd be nice if he'd state those positions, wouldn't it?

1. People should be allowed to own guns.