Another gun control topic...

[rgoper 0]

if we allow the gov't to oulaw guns, only outlaws will have guns. this will pass, don't worry, we've been here before.

--Richard--
"We Will Not Be Shaken By Thugs, And Terroist"

[PhillyKev 0]

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From my personal experience, seeing how pervasive drugs are, and knowing where I could buy them, I don't believe we really have a "war on drugs". If we honestly did, a non-user like me wouldn't have a clue where to see people using drugs, or have an inkling where I could buy them. The fact that I do means that law enforcement isn't squashing down hard enough to even keep it underground.

I agree...so where's all the money go?
For just this calendar year so far:
Federal: $7billion
States: $7.3billion
Arrests: 580,000 (one every 20 seconds)
Newly incarcerated: 87,000
New HIV cases due to infected needles (since they are illegal and are shared): 1,385

Yes this is off the gun topic, but it shows what happens when you have unenforceable laws.

That's just it...it's not enforceable. Just like speeding, just like abortions, just like alcohol in the 20s. An unenforceable law is an ineffective law no matter what. It doesn't matter what they do, what laws they pass, or how hard they try. When a significant portion of the population is determined to break the law, there is nothing that can be done to enforce it in a free society. The only way you could approach significant enforcement is by drastically curtailing freedom. That's the point and my objection to drug laws, gun laws, vice laws, etc.

Because such a large percentage is breaking these laws, equitable enforcement becomes impossible. We have the largest prison population per capita in the world by far. Why? Drug laws. Guess what, they're still out there, and they're still readily available and people are still using them. So what was accomplished? Incarceration of those who were unfortunate enough not to have connections, money or power. All of these laws are affronts to freedom and stricter enforcement would only lead to more violations of civil rights.

[jfields 0]

Kevin,

I agree with you that the unenforceable laws need to get changed, to either make them enforceable, or to remove them from the books.

I don't smoke (anything), yet I'd be okay with marijuana being legalized. It isn't safe, but neither is alcohol, or skydiving for that matter.

The question is where to draw the line. At some point, an individual with so much freedom is too likely to infringe on the rights of others. Going with the drug theme, I'm okay with alcohol and marijuana being legal. Cocaine, PCP and heroin? Not really.

The same with firearms. Responsible owners with rifles and handguns are okay. Grenades, tanks and NBC weapons? Nope.

As with most everything, there is a very large range of grey between the black and white. It is up to us cooperatively, through our democracy, to establish where we think the lines should be drawn, and with what penalty for violation. The beauty of the system is that we all get to decide. Nothing will please everyone, but the gradually shifting body of our laws should satisfy most of us, most of the time. I'm fine with that.

[Jib 0]

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Yes this is off the gun topic, but it shows what happens when you have unenforceable laws.

But having laws sure does feel good to some.

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the depth of his depravity sickens me.
-- Jerry Falwell, People v. Larry Flynt

[jfields 0]

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But having laws sure does feel good to some.

I'm sure you are among that list, whether you are willing to accept it or not. I don't believe you prefer anarchy.

[Jib 0]

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But having laws sure does feel good to some.

I'm sure you are among that list, whether you are willing to accept it or not. I don't believe you prefer anarchy.

I probably should have elaborated. I'm perfectly happy living in a society with rules and with people who abide by them. However, people will commit violent crimes irrespective of any such laws. There are people who feel better knowing that such laws exist and want more laws to "protect" them. Unfortunately, there's not always someone there to enforce those laws when you need them to be and laws aren't really relevant if you're maimed or worse. So, I'd much rather be reliant on myself and have the ability to do so than have someone with an irrational fear (cloaked in nobility) take it away for a false sense of security.

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the depth of his depravity sickens me.
-- Jerry Falwell, People v. Larry Flynt