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this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2023
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That's the issue though. If you banned guns tomorrow, how do you get them all out of private hands? Send the National Guard door to door to search the whole country? People would hide their guns or lose them in the lake within 5 minutes of the first search. We desperately need to do something, but any solution will be difficult due to the overwhelming number of guns just floating around.
I don't think you necessarily need to strip people of the possessions in their homes to regulate gun ownership. There can be comprehensive legislation in place without taking extreme action like that to improve the situation but for some reason Americans oppose any legislation at all.
You don't go straight for the ban, even if that's the end goal. You focus on making it more expensive and difficult to own guns, and you focus on changing how people think about them. The ultimate goal will take care of itself over time (even if multiple lifetimes). The thing is that Americans have a unique perspective on guns, but since we don't see this perspective in other countries (quite the opposite in most cases), we know it's not a manifestation of a human trait. It's cultural and therefore, learned. Learned traits may be to difficult to unlearn in a single generation, but you can do it over larger stretches of time. Sucks for us who are alive now, but good for the future.
I don't disagree. But there's also the other side of things: Some of us are terrified of being round up and thrown in camps. Its not hard to see when they are using the same play book as the Nazis, who got a lot of influence from the US. And while I'm not saying we shouldn't ban guns. It has worked for a lot of countries. And I think it's a great idea. But there's a point where I also need to be able protect myself. They're already stocked up. Banning guns doesn't change that. So if they do decide to start a civil war, they're already prepared. Is it gonna be like how it used to be where each side stands opposite each other in a field and shoot at each other? No. It's been talked about how it will likely be a lot of terrorist attacks. But if it gives some people a fighting chance, then they might need it.
Will I need it? Not as likely. For starters, I live in Portland. It's not likely I'm gonna have any issues. But for some other queer people in some towns and states, this might eventually be it for them.
I feel like part of the reason why Americans are facing threats of civil war now is related to refusing to regulate guns in any way so the Right feels empowered to act, maybe on a gun fever. It's not the only reason, but they must feel tough carrying around their hot metal. Probably also why the Right freaks out every time gun regulation is on the table. 🙄
You are of course free to do what you feel is necessary. I could conceivably see how it could come to that, but we can't see all things either. Maybe having a gun is precisely what people get shot for in that theoretical future as opposed to having it represent any valid defense. It may make one feel safe, but that's not the same as being safe. In the meantime, having a gun is a step away from a more ideal future rather than a step towards it. More guns doesn't solve the issue of too many guns. And without a doubt somebody's gun owned for well intentioned self-protection will be used by somebody to harm themselves or others.