"You led me to believe that you would ...."
But I agree with your statement "Laws are written typically in response to people doing something you don't want them to do."
And my bet is that an anti-cannablism law (should we need one in the future) would not go against any right that the constitution guarantees.
"If I get stuck with a group of people at Donner pass during the winter and I start eating body parts of those that froze to death in order to survive, is it illegal?"
You may want to hop on highway 80 and head back to Reno before you start eating people on the side of the road. That said (tongue in cheek) I think when survival is at stake the rules are different than when things are working normally. I highly recommend "Ordeal by Hunger" if you are interested in the Donner party. Fascinating real life human drama.
"The particular point made puts you in an awkward position"
I guess it does in a way. I think that was your intent, and in my mind that is why it is a good example of playing word games instead of answering a question forthright.
"I didn't see the words protect your property and defend yourself enumerated in the Constitution."
My right to keep and bear arms allows me to do this. Do you feel the framers did not feel you had a right to do this? I am pretty sure they were the type of people that will fight for what is right. Maybe you have some tidbit of history that shows they do not want you to be able to protect yourself. Please share it if you do.
"what you expressed is a fantasy of the NRAs creation"
Please explain how to get all the guns away from criminals. Otherwise looks sort of stupid to imply that I am stupid to believe it would be difficult and very close to impossible to do. I think there are over 200,000,000 guns in America you have to find and eliminate. And that still would leave the honest citizen with few choices in an attack. Give up what you have or get in a physical confrontation with the perp. Not too attractive of an idea for most people. Particularly the weak, elderly and frail. You know, the type that the criminals prey on.
"I can only think of two people on SI that I would consider friends and neither of them has been part of this discussion"
I thought that since you guys were patting each other on the back talking about what an idiot I am to believe in our 2nd Amendment right that you were friends. Sorry about that.
"Guns have lots of uses...."
Yes, they do.
"BTW, it wasn't against the law, it was an accident."
In most states the person who let the gun get into the kids hands would be prosecuted, so it was against the law most likely (unless it was a long time ago). These stories are tragic to be sure. But very, very rare. It is sad that you have had to experience it 1st hand with your family. But accidental gun deaths are not even in the top 20 causes of accidental deaths in the U.S. Walking on the sidewalk (and falling) results in many, many more accidendal deaths. But walking and sidewalks are useful, so we put up with the risk. Cars are by far the worst (by a magnitude of 1,000's compared to accidental gun deaths). But again, the benefits outweigh the risks. So the "argument" that someone who was not too smart or careful allowed their kid to kill someone does not outweigh the benefit that guns offer. There are a lot of instances where they have saved innocent lives, but these stories are of no use to the anti 2nd Amendment folks, which include most of our major newspapers.
"I can use a gun to rob a bank"
You could, but I wouldn't recommned it. You will almost certainly be caught. If you are interested in robbing a bank btw you can just walk up to the teller, tell him/her you have a gun (or bomb) and that you want the money. The policy is to give it to you. Give it a shot, and let me know how it goes.
So feel free to give it a try. If you do it without a gun you will get in less trouble when you are caught. A good law that penalizes the criminal instead of the innocent. Being the logical guy that I am, I like laws like that. |
