But some regulation for some guns, like we regulated machine guns: yes. Not necessarily anywhere near as much, but some? Something to consider. Taggants? Yes. Having a way to trace back bullets when a crime has been committed just makes sense, and I’ve never heard or read any logical argument for not perfecting, and implementing, adding taggants to ammunition.
Yet the recent knife attacks by Alex Hribal at Franklin Regional High School in the Pittsburgh area proves one thing in the gun debate: one talking point used by pro-gun activists is a load of rancid bat puke.
Here’s how it goes, when arguing for more regulation, background checks, taggants: anything, “What, you going to regulate knives next? Rocks? You can use many things to kill.
Of course you can, but I’ll make a deal with all those gun advocates who use this talking point. You give me your gun and you take my knife. Let’s start at 40 paces and see who dies first. Unless you’re damn good, and quick, at throwing knives, you’re boned. Literally if my bullet hits a rib.
Look, no sane army would trade all their guns for stones, knives or even crossbows. Put simply: it’s easier to kill with a gun, especially at a distance. This is why they were invented, and sometimes they certainly can save lives. In contrast, even up close, a knife still may not do as well, depending on the caliber or gauge. Anyone trading a knife for a double barrel 12 gauge in such a fight blew it. OK, got blown, and I don’t mean in an erotic, exciting way. Both barrels can really ruin your day, uh, days, uh, the rest of your life.
Oh, hell, you know what I mean.
If we’re talking hand grenades, or rocket launchers, OK, but many of these bigger, nastier, weapons are regulated, and/or harder to get.
Now feel free to argue your cause. But stop using the “regulate knives” argument. There’s at least one child fighting for his life, and several with medical issues, in Pittsburgh. Thank Zeus that’s all. If Adam Lanza at Sandy Hook had had knives instead more people would still be alive, and few, if any, dead. If Hrbil at Franklin Regional High School had had a gun you can be damn sure that one child, and many more, would already be dead. By using this line of argument you’re actually destroying the very position you’re trying to take.
And that’s pretty damn stupid.
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Inspection is a column that has been written by Ken Carman for over 30 years. Inspection is dedicated to looking at odd angles, under all the rocks and into the unseen cracks and crevasses that constitute the issues and philosophical constructs of our day: places few think, or even dare, to venture.
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