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This is a bad comparison. Yes you can apply the brakes or make steering changes. However you can only do that up and until a critical point of commitment past which no mater what input or action you give the automobile is going to be at a give point x in some short time y. The same is true for guns and their bullets. Once fired that guns bullet is going to be at a give point x in some short y. The only difference here is that the "short time y" is very, very much shorter for the gun than the automobile, meaning the wielder of the gun had a longer period of time prior to reaching that critical point of commitment to alter the outcome by point the gun somewhere else or not pulling the trigger.
[1 point]4 years ago by dr1024ReplyEdited 4 years ago by dr1024
So the reason we treat guns differently then pencils is because we fail to understand the math? Maybe the pen is mightier than the sword, at least equal. I think Y is very, very important - in more ways than one.
[1 point]4 years ago by grinznmoreReplyEdited 4 years ago by grinznmore
Pencils cannot write if no one picks them up. Guns cannot shoot if no one picks them up. A pencil can kill someone if you jab it through their heart. It is people that kill people, not inanimate objects.
If people are prone to kill each other, then maybe they SHOULD have guns to protect themselves for being killed.
Or do you prefer that (for example) a small woman be at the mercy of a larger man who wishes to do her harm using brute strength, or a knife, or a bat?
Guns are used about 2.5 million times a year in legal personal self defense in the USA. Both pro and anti gun groups have independently come up with about this same number. What you don't hear is the media saying anything about it because they have "better" news to report. Only in less that 10% of these self defence cases are any shoots fired, and even fewer result in a death. If I'm a rapist why am I going to risk my life to try to disarm a woman carrying a gun. I'm simply going to run away and pick an easier victim. Remember most (but not all) criminals are bullies and cowards that prefer to pick on the weak and helpless.
More than 100,000 U.S. deaths are caused by excessive alcohol consumption each year. Direct and indirect causes of death include drunk driving, cirrhosis of the liver, falls, cancer, and stroke. gun deaths are around 25,000.
[1 point]4 years ago by BEC44ReplyEdited 4 years ago by BEC44
United States
This comment was deleted.
[1 point] 4 years ago by deleted user ReplyMost pencils have erasers, guns don't. Your argument would also support grenades. If it sounds absurd that's because your comparison is ridiculous.
The analogy is valid. Anti-gun people love to try to demonize the firearm and not the killer.
agree, and automobiles do, they don't have erasers either, the comparison is NOT ridiculously.
Actually they do of sorts. The brakes and steering wheel allow a last minute correction. Ever grab a bullet in flight and make a correction?
This is a bad comparison. Yes you can apply the brakes or make steering changes. However you can only do that up and until a critical point of commitment past which no mater what input or action you give the automobile is going to be at a give point x in some short time y. The same is true for guns and their bullets. Once fired that guns bullet is going to be at a give point x in some short y. The only difference here is that the "short time y" is very, very much shorter for the gun than the automobile, meaning the wielder of the gun had a longer period of time prior to reaching that critical point of commitment to alter the outcome by point the gun somewhere else or not pulling the trigger.
So the reason we treat guns differently then pencils is because we fail to understand the math? Maybe the pen is mightier than the sword, at least equal. I think Y is very, very important - in more ways than one.
This would be better asked, "If guns kill people do pencils cause spelling mistakes?"
Neither guns nor pencils are the cause of their user's actions.
Pencils cannot write if no one picks them up. Guns cannot shoot if no one picks them up. A pencil can kill someone if you jab it through their heart. It is people that kill people, not inanimate objects.
This comment was deleted.
[1 point] 4 years ago by deleted user ReplyNo, but maybe you shouldn't.
If people are prone to kill each other, then maybe they SHOULD have guns to protect themselves for being killed.
Or do you prefer that (for example) a small woman be at the mercy of a larger man who wishes to do her harm using brute strength, or a knife, or a bat?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaiAFfNceyo
This comment was deleted.
[2 points] 4 years ago by deleted user ReplyGuns are used about 2.5 million times a year in legal personal self defense in the USA. Both pro and anti gun groups have independently come up with about this same number. What you don't hear is the media saying anything about it because they have "better" news to report. Only in less that 10% of these self defence cases are any shoots fired, and even fewer result in a death. If I'm a rapist why am I going to risk my life to try to disarm a woman carrying a gun. I'm simply going to run away and pick an easier victim. Remember most (but not all) criminals are bullies and cowards that prefer to pick on the weak and helpless.
http://www.a-human-right.com/RKBA/s_dont.jpg
What you do hear about are the crimes where someone was not able to defend themselves and was raped or assaulted.
And how many times has that happend?
More than 100,000 U.S. deaths are caused by excessive alcohol consumption each year. Direct and indirect causes of death include drunk driving, cirrhosis of the liver, falls, cancer, and stroke. gun deaths are around 25,000.
The pen is mightier than the sword.
A logically valid analogy. Neither is true in reality, but it's a valid conclusion.
Would you rathr go to New York, or by train?