Seno Zhou Varada wrote:Galloism wrote:
Eh, we smuggle in billions of pounds of marijuana annually, and very few are addicted to pot.
It's not especially addicting.
They're not more easily detected, actually. They're not especially less portable either. We don't have the manpower or equipment to scan even 1% of the cargo that enters the United States. Drugs are easier (although not especially easy), because a dog can walk down the aisle between containers stacked three high and detect drugs. Guns cannot be sniffed out.
Certainly more difficult to manufacture. It'd probably take me the better part of two days to manufacture a decent one in my garage if my left hand wasn't messed up. Of course, I have tools.
Now, if we're talking about sniper weapons, you're quite correct that it requires a very specific and precise manufacturing process, but making a gun that's good at a range of 100 feet is really not that hard.
Grandpa did. He wouldn't have been able to rush them, but he did have time to draw his gun.
One of my main problems is that those who seek to ban guns seek to ban the great equalizer of force. This means that, in reality, who they are hurting are women and the elderly. Those are the ones who need guns most - because they can't (or may not be able to) defend themselves using their body alone.
Really, those who would ban guns hate women.
You're talking about banning something more dearly held precious by Americans than alcohol or drugs.
Something that is seen as a god-given right (not really my view, given if it was god-given, we would have had guns always) to have. If you think it would be cheaper than the drug war, you are so far outside this reality that we're going to need some sort of transdimensional gateway to get you back.
Now while women may or may not be physically weaker then men that is pure sexist to say that women need guns to defend themselves. I know women who are vicious is martial arts when they spar and can more than likely beat the shite out of any attacker.
Hence my "may not be able to".
I've met women who could kick my ass in a straight fight. However, as a function of averages, men tend to possess more upper body strength, so in a grapple between your average man and average woman, it's highly likely the man will come out victories.
Criminal or victim, makes little difference.
Do outliers exist? Certainly. They may even be common.
Would I support all people learning extensive martial arts so all criminal activities turn into epic martial arts battles?
... well, yes.