Quote:
Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen
The gun is a weapon. It amuses me that gun fetishists are always talking about how they need their gun for safety and yet seem to shy away from the fact that it is a weapon. I mean isn't that why you want it? If a gun's primary function was to dry your laundry, would you be so passionate about it?
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There is no denying it's a weapon, however, from a pragmatic point of view, it
IS a tool. Perhaps the choice of words shows more about the person engaged in the conversation, then the item itself. To me it's just a tool, no different then a
powder actuated tool.. I'm well aware that handled wrong, incorrectly, or irresponsibly, injury of death can happen to myself, as well as others. Like any other tool, I'll wear the proper personal protection, and maintain safe practices so that I don't injure myself or anyone else. The same could be said for a circular saw, a table saw, a band saw, a Jointer, plainer, or nail gun. A tool is designed to do a job; and broadly speaking, I view firearms as tools for lawful defense of self and others. I don't think of them as weapons (though I know they are), because I have no aggressive motives, nor have I any intent on harming anyone.
While true, a gun is a weapon, what your really doing is a using a word that inspires mental images fear, danger, death, homicide, etc. The word "weapon" is a little on the aggressive side in meaning and intent. The gun isn't going to jump up by self and injure, maim or kill anyone. It' is a mechanical device, and It's the monkey handling it that is the problem and cause for concern.
Now your choice of word "fetishists " is both derogatory, and pretty much tells how you feel about gun control in general, without having any read or remembered any previous arguments you may have made on the issue. I take sides with the pro gun crowd for a few reasons:
1.) To me, the gun control issue is more about the continued erosion of civil liberties. I'm looking at the larger picture. The politics of fear have created The patriot act and the National Defense Authorization Act, both of which have tremendous potential to trample upon our civil liberties as defined by the bill of rights. Now they're going after our means of self defense? No, this has gone too far already. No more.
2.) It pisses me off that some dillweed politicians who are not even living in the same state as me, try to dictate policy as if I were under there thumb, and their solution was a one size fits all. Honestly, i think gun policies should be decided at state level, NOT the federal level. What works for New York or California, does not work for Utah, and vice versa. The demographics are different, and different demographics require different solutions.
3.) I enjoy target shooting. It is a fun hobby and competitive sport, and I resent being told what i can or can't do on or during my free time. Don't screw with my life, liberty and pursuit of happiness when I am not doing anything wrong, and not harming anyone. I was not at Sandy Hook elemetary with a gun in my hand shooting at innocent kids, nor would I ever do such a hideous thing, it is beyond my comprehension. (See tool vs weapon), furthermore I resent legislative punishment for a crime i did not commit.