Alumbrado
Posts: 5560
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quote:
Instead, I want to discuss as to why an everyday person with no criminal record and no history of psychological/psychiatric issues, who is a tax paying, responsible citizen, should not be permitted to own a firearm, should he/she want one? Given the parameters above, what arguments can be found to deny such a person ownership? A couple of thoughts, not particularly embracing any of the arguments, just trying to answer the question by listing possible viewpoints. > Assuming the future behavior of others.. People as decribed above have inexplicably abused the right to possess guns in the past by using them to harm others, and presumably such things will occur again. The 'better safe than sorry' argument. > Projecting their own fears onto others... The feeling some people hold that if they had a gun, they might end up in a tragic incident, so other people cannot be trusted with guns. The 'evil guns cause violence' argument. > Fear of 'the other'...people who don't like the notion of guns at all will objectify those who do as 'them', and assume characteritics not in evidence in every case in order to conveniently erase any paradox that might exist if they admitted that there are gun owners who don't fit a stereotype. The anti 'gun nuts' argument. > Need for power over others.... Guns aren't known as equalizers for nothing, and one's place in the pecking order is threatened if guns are in the hands of just any old body. Why they might use those guns to overthrow the monarc... errr, the lawfully established status quo.The 'comfort zone' argument. Again, I'm not a proponent of a particular viewpoint in this thread, I'm just attempting to answer the OP question by identifying some possible rationalizations.
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