this post was submitted on 24 Oct 2023
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[–] rockstarmode -4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I gave other examples of "tools" like a watch or a wallet. Tools are just a means of getting things done, and aren't in of themselves good or evil. Some tools are more dangerous than others, just like some jobs are more dangerous than others.

Trained and responsible adults do dangerous jobs, often with dangerous tools, in public, all the time. Similarly millions of law abiding Americans legally carry pistols every day, and you'd be surprised how little crime they commit with their tools compared to the overall public.

But that's probably not what this crowd wants to hear, and that's ok. I'm just chiming in to lend a perspective that might not be the status quo in places like this.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

This excuse always makes me laugh, "it's just a tool, like a hammer". Well, a hammer could hit someone in the head, but it's designed to hit nails. A gun does... What? Shoots people or animals. You're an idiot.

[–] rockstarmode -3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Sure, but it doesn't do that without someone pulling the trigger.

What you've done is assume either the tool has agency of its own, or that humans can only use this tool for negative purposes.

What I said was that those things are patently untrue, and provided examples of how >6 million pistols are legally carried by civilians in the US every day, and how those civilians are far less likely than regular public to commit gun crimes.

This is kind of a tautology because the legal carry folks are both:

  • legally allowed to acquire a firearm (ruling out prohibited persons like people with prior criminal histories) and in many cases they've
  • gone through even more extensive background checks and rigorous training

But I also acknowledge that some folks don't think those facts are significant, I'm just sorry this resorted to name calling.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

You're arguing in bad faith. A concealed weapon has exactly one purpose: defense by the use of deadly force, or brandishing.

[–] rockstarmode 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Defense with justifiable deadly force (as a last resort) is not evil or bad. I appreciate that you agree that there's a good reason for millions of law abiding people to be armed.