Common Sense

[Danosaur]

Left Argument
The war on drugs causes crime because people are going to do drugs no matter what you do, and when they're illegal the black market controls the sell and makes the profit from drugs, thus drastically increasing crime in the U.S.

Right Argument
Banning Guns causes crime because people are going to want guns no matter what you do, and when they're illegal the black market controls the sell and makes the profit from guns, thus drastically increasing crime in the U.S.

The Reasoned Citizen
So prohibition is bad, it leads to higher crime rates and good people get hurt. So, why is the left and right guilty of making the same mistake?

[postfeminist]

Where do i fit in? I think that drugs should be legalized and taxed like hell to fund schools.

I think that guns should stay legal, but there should be mandatory training programs for those who buy them...

i hope that my kids never get ahold of either drugs or guns...

[Danosaur]

A classmate I had from college took his children out to learn how to shoot guns regularly. It was important to him that his children understood the power of guns and how to control them. I wonder if he wasn't right. I use to be terrified of guns, but as I learn more they scare me less. Also, I have had training in disarming someone with a gun before and that seemed to help too. So, anywho, I don't think guns have to be a bad thing.

One thing that does make me wonder is how people can get so excited about killing animals with guns. When I watch the hunting channel on TV I wonder how somehow can get a kick out of it when humans have such an advantage. It's not like the animal is much of a threat when you got a big ass rifle. Seems to me that if you go hunting you should have to kill with a knife or a stick or something, add a little sport to the sport.

[Sovrana]

Originally posted by Danosaur
It's not like the animal is much of a threat when you got a big ass rifle. Seems to me that if you go hunting you should have to kill with a knife or a stick or something, add a little sport to the sport.

Not that I am an advocate of guns or hunting, but "The Deer Hunter" seemed to present a respectful approach to such sportsmanship: "one shot"--Michael

though this line in this film also brilliantly shows the adverse effects of the "one shot" rule--Nick

what a great film!!

[solomon]

The Reasoned Citizen
So prohibition is bad, it leads to higher crime rates and good people get hurt. So, why is the left and right guilty of making the same mistake?

It just shows how neither "side" has a consistent logical approach to freedom and liberty. They each are all about control, just in different ways.

And you left out that people have a RIGHT to do drugs and do what they want with their body, and people have a RIGHT to be able to defend themselves against criminals and government. Economic reasons notwithstanding.

Sol

[DogStarMan]

Originally posted by postfeminist
Where do i fit in? I think that drugs should be legalized and taxed like hell to fund schools.

I think that guns should stay legal, but there should be mandatory training programs for those who buy them...

i hope that my kids never get ahold of either drugs or guns...
postfeminist for president 2004!

[tobedawg]

One thing that does make me wonder is how people can get so excited about killing animals with guns. When I watch the hunting channel on TV I wonder how somehow can get a kick out of it when humans have such an advantage. It's not like the animal is much of a threat when you got a big ass rifle. Seems to me that if you go hunting you should have to kill with a knife or a stick or something, add a little sport to the sport.

It's all about picking on those weaker than you. Unfortunately this exists in all life forms. And this is an example on a smaller scale of what our government does to other countries. The most recent and obvious example is the Iraqi War. Going after a country with less civilized "alleged" nuclear weapons and a weak military is alot more convient than going after a country like North Korea with the technology to make bigger nuclear weapons and has a sophisticated military.

On the subject at hand about drugs.. The War on drugs is NOT working and has been lost since it started. Our tax dollars are going to lock people up for smoking joints (including people with cancer who grow and smoke pot to ease the pain of chemotherapy), while murderers, rapists, and terrorists are running amok on our streets. This is money that can go to education or health care. Instead, we spend money on those pointless, "I learned it by watching you" commercials.

[Duemellon]

"I learned it by watching you" commercials. heh, i was just thinking about that commercial and retelling it to someone yesterday. In fact, my bestest friend LOVES that commercial,...

he's a lil' nuts, but oh well.

just thought I'd share in the "coincidentally interesting" moment.

[solomon]

is money that can go to education or health care.

Or back to the people who EARNED it.

[Danosaur]

Or back to the people who EARNED it.

Agreed.

I can't speak for health care, but private school systems with much smaller budgets regularly out perform public schools. Money is the least of public education's worries.