Reply #73: Several misconceptions here. [View All]

Owning a gun is not a "sin." Misusing it is a sin. Interesting enough, every "sin" committed with a gun can be committed without a gun. You like to argue that the gun's efficacy as a weapon is the qualifying characteristic of its evil, yet somehow that evil nature disappears when the person with the gun wears a uniform and a badge. Suddenly, that same efficacy becomes good. Are uniformed agents of the State uniquely good and ordinary citizens uniquely evil? That would be the only explanation for this magical transformation. Please tell me you don't believe that.


Are you arguing that my owning a gun makes it more likely that I will be a shooting victim? I'm aware of some studies making that claim, but they failed to control for criminal lifestyles. I think that my gun ownership makes it less likely that I will be "mortally wounded by gunfire." Of course it still could happen, but it is less likely. And if it did happen, I can guarantee you that my final thought woud not be "Damn, I wish guns did not exist!" It would be something more along the lines of "Damn, that fucker shot me!"