Reply #59: Variations on a common theme, mac

[Euromutt]

There is no parallel between homicide and buying ammunition; the former results in direct harm to an unwilling victim, the latter does not. And I'll tentatively agree with you that homicide is illegal so that there is a mechanism to punish (and dare I say it, rehabilitate, even though the American criminal justice system is remarkably indifferent to this objective) those who commit it, what social purpose does it serve to punish people who would attempt to circumvent this law if they did not seek to use the ammunition thus acquired for committing unlawful acts that result in direct harm to unwilling victims, but instead intend to use it to put holes in paper targets, or use it for self-defense within the framework of law governing the use of lethal force to that end?