Posted on 06/23/2016 2:15:30 PM PDT by Ellendra
On average, Democrats (that’s my team*) use guns for shooting the innocent. We call that crime.
On average, Republicans use guns for sporting purposes and self-defense.
If you don’t believe me, you can check the statistics on the Internet that don’t exist. At least I couldn’t find any that looked credible.
But we do know that race and poverty are correlated. And we know that poverty and crime are correlated. And we know that race and political affiliation are correlated. Therefore, my team (Clinton) is more likely to use guns to shoot innocent people, whereas the other team (Trump) is more likely to use guns for sporting and defense.
That’s a gross generalization. Obviously. Your town might be totally different.
So it seems to me that gun control can’t be solved because Democrats are using guns to kill each other – and want it to stop – whereas Republicans are using guns to defend against Democrats. Psychologically, those are different risk profiles. And you can’t reconcile those interests, except on the margins. For example, both sides might agree that rocket launchers are a step too far. But Democrats are unlikely to talk Republicans out of gun ownership because it comes off as “Put down your gun so I can shoot you.”
Let’s all take a deep breath and shake off the mental discomfort I just induced in half of my readers. You can quibble with my unsupported assumptions about gun use, but keep in mind that my point is about psychology and about big group averages. If Republicans think they need guns to protect against Democrats, that’s their reality. And if Democrats believe guns make the world more dangerous for themselves, that is their reality. And they can both be right. Your risk profile is different from mine.
So let’s stop acting as if there is something like “common sense” gun control to be had if we all act reasonably. That’s not an option in this case because we all have different risk profiles when it comes to guns. My gun probably makes me safer, but perhaps yours makes you less safe. You can’t reconcile those interests.
Our situation in the United States is that people with different risk profiles are voting for their self-interests as they see it. There is no compromise to be had in this situation unless you brainwash one side or the other to see their self-interest differently. And I don’t see anyone with persuasion skills trying to do that on either side.
Fear always beats reason. So as long as Democrats are mostly using guns to shoot innocent people (intentionally or accidentally) and Republicans are mostly using guns for sport or self-defense, no compromise can be had.
If we had a real government – the kind that works – we would acknowledge that gun violence is not one big problem with one big solution. It is millions of people with different risk profiles voting their self-interest as they see it.
So stop acting like one side is stupid. Both sides of the gun issue are scared, and both have legitimate reasons to be that way. Neither side is “right.”
—
*I endorsed Clinton for president for my personal safety. I write about Trump’s powers of persuasion and it is not safe to live in California if people think you support Trump in any way. Also, I’m rich, so I don’t want anything to change in this country. The rest of you might have a different risk profile.
Also keep in mind that he's a cartoonist.
That said, I think he has an interesting viewpoint.
This is pretty brilliant.
Scott Adams is really a Liberal. Really super duper Really. Because He Said So!
Quite funny.
L
“So it seems to me that gun control can’t be solved because Democrats are using guns to kill each other – and want it to stop – whereas Republicans are using guns to defend against Democrats. Psychologically, those are different risk profiles.”
As the saying goes, you can pry them from my cold, dead fingers (and be careful not to trip on all of the expended brass surrounding my body). Oh, but wait, someone in my family will be taking them from me in that circumstance, and continuing to use them. Here’s some advice: don’t come for them, you won’t like the result.
I'm not scared and my 2nd Amendment right is my right. My right to defend myself from bad people, from tyrant's, to use for sport,etc...our founding fathers didn't say "shall not be infringed" for nothing. They and their ancestors lived under tyrant rule for centuries. They said what they meant. And it was for a reason. Technology may change but the nature of man and the evil that dwells in their heart will never change. They understood that. Thats's good enough for me.
Simple solution Then.....
BAN DEMOCRATS!
—he might also have noted that as black males commit murder at a rate 11 times higher per capita than whites, there is somewhat of a “racial” factor in here somewhere-—
I love how the comments are closed for that post....hehehehe!
Truth in humor, got to love it.
Agreed, I am not scared, I’m just to old to tote a cop on my back everywhere I go, but I can still squeeze a trigger if I need to.
I am not ‘scared’, either.
I am prudent.
I’m not scared either. I have weapons. Scotts’s a little confused if you ask me.
Why Gun Control Can’t Be Solved in the USA
SOLVED ???
Didn’t know it was a problem ! Except 4 DimWitocRATs..
In other words, capitalism works if people are willing to work, but if they are immature and unwilling,mthen they need to get in a military like structure of socialism.
Same thing with guns. Safety is possible with free gun ownership so long people willingly carry responsibly. If that goes out the window, then they do not get the spread out protection and need police presence everywhere.
The author fails to see that democrats want socialism and gun control, and they will keep insisting on making people lazy and irresponsible to that end.
If democrats suffer from existence of guns, it is of their own doing and their objective: the victim politics rules.
Watch out Scott, even though you self identify as a liberal the wicked witch of the north (Chicago) has been rumored to even strike down some of her best friends during fits of anger.
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