General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: "Handguns...exacerbate our flaws, tempt us to escalate arguments, and bait us into embracing.... [View all]ancianita
(36,017 posts)It damps down confrontation. People watch what they say and measure their words more. I don't think the OP is a fair or accurate description of gun culture. I've personally known of gun owners who've spent entire lives experiencing domestic violence, and never once was a gun even a consideration in settling those disputes. This is a high visibility event, which people often use to mischaracterize gun culture.
People don't tend to shoot over words, or arguments over sex, politics, or religion. They tend to shoot over breaches of trust -- infidelity, getting (unfairly) fired from a job, settling secret betrayals, ending bullying, etc., or sending a message to imagined powerful governmental enemies.
Police enforcement of gun laws about purchasing and possession is too lax.