MO: KC Mayor James "Violence is committed by guns." ?

Gun Watch ^ | 13 September, 2014 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

There has been much talk about how "progressives" do not believe in individual responsibility.  There is the stereotype that liberals attribute volitional powers to firearms, that firearms cause violence.   In anticipation of the veto override  of SB656 in Missouri, Mayor Sly James gave a speech in Kansas City, MO.

The transcript from fox4kc.com shows:

Violence, the mayor says is committed by guns.

I listened to the video of the speech.  That sentence is not recorded from Mayor James, but is reported as being said by Kerri Stowell of Fox4news.  As I heard it , she said that Mayor James said "Too much violence is committed by guns".

It does not matter  much whether the Mayor said it or if Kerri Stowell misquoted him.  It is a major misuse of the language to say that violence is committed "by" guns instead of "with" guns.   "By guns" attributes agency and volition to guns, a nonsensical statement.   "With guns" correctly attributes agency and volition to the people using the guns.

I see and hear this usage repeatedly.   I do not think it is accidental.  Saying that violence is committed "by guns" removes the volition and responsibility from human hands, and offers a simplistic and irrational solution to a complex problem.   Remove the guns, and you remove the violence.   As with most simplistic solutions to complex problems, it only creates more problems.

©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
Link to Gun Watch

[Brother Cracker]

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

“...quemadmodum gladius neminem occidit, occidentis telum est.”-Seneca “The Younger”.

“A sword never kills anyone. It is a tool in the killer’s hand.” -Seneca (Lucius Annaeus, Seneca They Youner 4BC-65AD.)

[KSCITYBOY]

Morons run KCMO & the disaster of a school system. Thank God I moved.

[bgill]

Didn’t know beheadings were done with guns.

[WesternPacific]

Violence is committed by guns.

If that is the case, there would be more guns in prison and on Death Roll then people.

[elcid1970]

NICE S&W Model 19 .357 mag. Looks pinned & recessed, too.

Looks even better with Goncalo Alves original grips.

;^)

[Chode]

yup, and it hasn't killed anybody yet... that i know of anyway

[logic101.net]

You clearly lack a large SUV.

My Explorer isn’t big enough?

[libstripper]

No. You at least need an Expedition. I have a Navigator and lived in constant, gnawing fear of what mint happen until the TBA. Now, the guns having been lost in the TBA, the fear has passed.