But puritanism's unbroken record of failure will not stop people from trying again and again. Every new generation is born with faith in the power of magic words -- written laws -- to prevent sin.
Very good article. It applies far beyond the narrow scope of knives.
Many people on this forum would agree with its narrow scope but contradict themselves on it's wider application to issues such as the war on drugs, anti-smoking laws, pornography and other inalienable rights.
"-- puritanism's unbroken record of failure will not stop people from trying again and again.
Every new generation is born with faith in the power of magic words -- written laws -- to prevent sin.
And every American generation for the past century and a half has produced its own new wave of oppressive and futile [prohibitive] laws. --"
As you note Zon, great essay..
Lets see what some of FR's foremost prohibitionists have to say about the war on knives..