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defrogITEM: Dozens of county sheriffs publicly declare that they won't enforce the Obama administration's new gun laws, whatever they turn out to be.
Which I mention because this gets to the heart of why I’m not in favor of banning guns, and also why I don't think that more gun regulations will do anything to prevent the next mass school shooting.
I’m not against gun regulation per se – so I should stress up front that I’m looking at this strictly from the main argument from anti-gun people that we need these laws to prevent another Sandy Hook.
But the fact is all the regulations in the world won’t stop the next Sandy Hook (including a total ban on guns) precisely because too many police are opposed to them and will not bother to enforce them simply out of patriotic duty.
Even if they wanted to, the fact of the matter is that millions of Americans (starting with the NRA, but plenty more besides their membership roster) will not give up their guns, and will find ways to get more of them.
The best analogy I can come up with is recreational drugs. They’re mostly illegal, and yet lots of otherwise law-abiding citizens still manage to get hold of them and use them. Why? Because they want to, they don’t see why they should be illegal, and someone is more than willing to supply it to them.
And that’s for something you don’t have a constitutional right to use. You think everyone in the NRA is going to shrug their shoulders and say, “Well boys, it was fun while it lasted”?
Not a chance. Legally or illegally, guns will still remain in circulation among the general populace, often with the complicity of the local police (depending on the jurisdiction, of course) and sooner or later the next Adam Lanza will go on a killing spree.
That sucks, yes. But that’s just how it is.
Having said all that, it’s only fair to add that if restricting gun access won’t prevent future school shootings, neither will arming teachers, students and local vigilantes. That might work in Wayne LaPierre’s little John Wayne Fantasyland that he entertains in his head where everyone is armed at all times, ready to fend off bad guys, Injuns and Socialists and save the day at a moment’s notice. In the real world, people panic under pressure and crazy people don’t really care if you shoot back.
From my cold dead fingers,
This is dF
Which I mention because this gets to the heart of why I’m not in favor of banning guns, and also why I don't think that more gun regulations will do anything to prevent the next mass school shooting.
I’m not against gun regulation per se – so I should stress up front that I’m looking at this strictly from the main argument from anti-gun people that we need these laws to prevent another Sandy Hook.
But the fact is all the regulations in the world won’t stop the next Sandy Hook (including a total ban on guns) precisely because too many police are opposed to them and will not bother to enforce them simply out of patriotic duty.
Even if they wanted to, the fact of the matter is that millions of Americans (starting with the NRA, but plenty more besides their membership roster) will not give up their guns, and will find ways to get more of them.
The best analogy I can come up with is recreational drugs. They’re mostly illegal, and yet lots of otherwise law-abiding citizens still manage to get hold of them and use them. Why? Because they want to, they don’t see why they should be illegal, and someone is more than willing to supply it to them.
And that’s for something you don’t have a constitutional right to use. You think everyone in the NRA is going to shrug their shoulders and say, “Well boys, it was fun while it lasted”?
Not a chance. Legally or illegally, guns will still remain in circulation among the general populace, often with the complicity of the local police (depending on the jurisdiction, of course) and sooner or later the next Adam Lanza will go on a killing spree.
That sucks, yes. But that’s just how it is.
Having said all that, it’s only fair to add that if restricting gun access won’t prevent future school shootings, neither will arming teachers, students and local vigilantes. That might work in Wayne LaPierre’s little John Wayne Fantasyland that he entertains in his head where everyone is armed at all times, ready to fend off bad guys, Injuns and Socialists and save the day at a moment’s notice. In the real world, people panic under pressure and crazy people don’t really care if you shoot back.
From my cold dead fingers,
This is dF
