SOME writers have so confounded society with government, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins. Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our happiness POSITIVELY by uniting our affections, the latter NEGATIVELY by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last a punisher.American conservatism is not cynical. In that it concedes the necessity of government, it is skeptical of society - while being skeptical of government as, dangerous to liberty and, at best, “a necessary evil.”Society in every state is a blessing, but Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil - Thomas Paine, Common Sense (1776)
Socialism, OTOH, is cynicism towards society and concomitant naiveté towards government. From that perspective, advocacy of “gun control” is an obvious expression of the socialist mindset. It dismisses any good done by society, and demands government action against evil with no consideration of collateral damage to society. Least of all of the threat to liberty.