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Atman

(31,464 posts)
Sun Dec 23, 2012, 07:40 AM Dec 2012

How do you reason with people like this? [View all]

The son of a FB friend of mine posted a rant the other about how he "deserved" his arsenal of legally-acquired weapons. He was in some sort of law-enforcement or security detail, and bragged that he never left the house without packing heat. He had "dozens" of various weapons and he "deserved them." His dad chimed in about how proud he was of his son. Apparently dad is a corrections officer or something.

Then dad posted some NRA support ad featuring a big black Dodge Charger, and a screed about the car, with its 400hp V8, was "specifically designed to kill innocent people" and therefore it should banned. The ad included the number of auto-related deaths annually.

Well, I couldn't help myself, and pointed out the ridiculousness of his statement, that the car was "specifically designed" to kill innocent people. Guns, however, are "specifically designed" to kill. That is their only purpose. As you might expect, the name calling from his circle of friends began quickly.

"Guns are only designed to fire bullets. It is people who do the killing!" Hell, how does one begin to argue with such a mindset? A car is "specifically designed to kill innocent people" -- not just people, mind you, but innocent people -- because it has a big engine, but guns are merely for shooting bullets. If that's the case, why does the dude pack a weapon 24/7? In case he gets the sudden urge to do some target shooting?

I'm not anti-gun, but people like this are frightening.

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By all means, ban cars; they're literally killing us all anyway... Scootaloo Dec 2012 #1
+1. freedom fighter jh Dec 2012 #6
Trains... Neoma Dec 2012 #42
No, no! That's how they're gonna ship us off to FEMA! Glenn Beck says so! freshwest Dec 2012 #62
And progressives vote against it because NIMBY Scootaloo Dec 2012 #71
But not if they add them to side of the interstate, that's the plan. I guess. freshwest Dec 2012 #72
O rly? Lulz. AverageJoe90 Dec 2012 #67
There isn't even a remote chance they'll Ilsa Dec 2012 #2
I wonder how many people actually commit homicide by car every year. PerpetuallyDazed Dec 2012 #3
I had a friend that committed suicide by car. littlemissmartypants Dec 2012 #4
Asphyxiation is common Chico Man Dec 2012 #98
Helium hood. n/t littlemissmartypants Dec 2012 #99
Umm Chico Man Dec 2012 #20
Do you have a cite for that? drm604 Dec 2012 #31
Of course it doesn't. 99Forever Dec 2012 #44
Tell those affected by drunk drivers that their loss is bull shit Chico Man Dec 2012 #50
You didn't just get it wrong. 99Forever Dec 2012 #56
Do you realize how many people drive drunk? Chico Man Dec 2012 #61
YOU DO LIVE IN FEAR Skittles Dec 2012 #64
^^^ THIS! RetroLounge Dec 2012 #66
I'm putting that on on Ignore Skittles Dec 2012 #68
Go for it Chico Man Dec 2012 #83
No Chico Man Dec 2012 #84
The ad says 35,000 total, so that figure can't be right Atman Dec 2012 #32
Yeah it peaked out at about 50k Chico Man Dec 2012 #43
So basically any discussion of this is "incredibly insulting". drm604 Dec 2012 #51
Of course I can't back it up Chico Man Dec 2012 #54
Need to see some figures and explanation tabasco Dec 2012 #57
They found a guy outside my apartment shot in the head Chico Man Dec 2012 #58
You have a some actual evidence of that? 99Forever Dec 2012 #33
Is this really a game I'm playing? Chico Man Dec 2012 #45
Your claim was that there are 50,000 vehicular HOMICIDES a year. 99Forever Dec 2012 #46
Like I said, you win Chico Man Dec 2012 #49
Got any more strawman nonsense you care to toss out? 99Forever Dec 2012 #52
almost nothing? Chico Man Dec 2012 #53
forget it 99: lost cause Skittles Dec 2012 #65
Get some fresh air Chico Man Dec 2012 #86
Vehicular homicides don't mean what you think they mean. Zoeisright Dec 2012 #70
PerpetuallyDazed is the one who made the mistake by use of "homicide" Scootaloo Dec 2012 #73
Bullshit. There were 12664 murders in the US in 2011. Of those 8583 were gun deaths. neverforget Dec 2012 #92
Vehicular homicide is not murder Chico Man Dec 2012 #93
A dead person is a dead person no matter how they die and littlemissmartypants Dec 2012 #5
Seems like an apples and oranges problem Frosty1 Dec 2012 #7
You can't. GoCubsGo Dec 2012 #8
Start with fear, reinforce the fear with consistent actions of avoidance, or carrying a weapon... Maineman Dec 2012 #36
I saw that on Facebook caraher Dec 2012 #9
It's the Founders' Fault RVN VET Dec 2012 #10
cars regulated d_r Dec 2012 #11
i have to agree exboyfil Dec 2012 #12
Additional risk? Fumesucker Dec 2012 #87
There is no reasoning with someone like that etherealtruth Dec 2012 #13
The question isn't H2O Man Dec 2012 #14
He is an acquaintance we see during summer months Atman Dec 2012 #34
Attempting to convince such people is useless. thucythucy Dec 2012 #15
I agree creepy! obama2terms Dec 2012 #16
Start talking Suicide figures. slampoet Dec 2012 #17
Post removed Post removed Dec 2012 #97
Jesus dangin Dec 2012 #18
Thank them for being in a profession that checks their mental and physical health, Festivito Dec 2012 #19
You don't. sulphurdunn Dec 2012 #21
I don't try to engage these folks any more. I block them from my view loyalkydem Dec 2012 #22
+1 lunasun Dec 2012 #77
These kinds intellectually dishonest arguments are being channeled via high bandwidth geckosfeet Dec 2012 #23
It's the same selfish, tea party mindset CanonRay Dec 2012 #24
Why Bother?? Iggy Dec 2012 #25
that's father's story STINKS Skittles Dec 2012 #81
GOOD LUCK Iggy Dec 2012 #82
I know it would be hard to prove Skittles Dec 2012 #94
You don't "reason" with them. You impose legislation that JanMichael Dec 2012 #26
This message was self-deleted by its author ann--- Dec 2012 #27
They are in the alternate reality and you cannot reason Gman Dec 2012 #28
Leave the 47 percentney alone BeyondGeography Dec 2012 #29
You can't...but you arm yourself with this: dvhughes Dec 2012 #30
You can't argue with that-- it's a mindset... TreasonousBastard Dec 2012 #35
There is a term for people like this Vietnameravet Dec 2012 #37
The NRA loves creating false equivilancies WhoIsNumberNone Dec 2012 #38
LaPierre is hammering on that one on MTP now. Skidmore Dec 2012 #39
See my post below yours for how I suggest we respond to that argument. JoePhilly Dec 2012 #41
Try this .... You need a license to drive car. In fact, you might need graded licensees depending JoePhilly Dec 2012 #40
Don't bother. n2doc Dec 2012 #47
a .223 assault weapon is designed to wound/kill people.... Evasporque Dec 2012 #48
Gophers and groundhogs are about the biggest thing you should hunt with them Recursion Dec 2012 #75
Here's how I dealt with it ProfessionalLeftist Dec 2012 #55
low intellience people samsingh Dec 2012 #59
He doesn't deserve those guns treestar Dec 2012 #60
"How do you reason"? Start with an open mind because you and they may be talking about quite jody Dec 2012 #63
You don't. You get them out of your life. Zoeisright Dec 2012 #69
EXACTLY. To me, OP's "question" is ridiculous! WinkyDink Dec 2012 #85
I think your "comment" is ridiculous. Atman Dec 2012 #101
See if you can out do them, just to test their limits. ZombieHorde Dec 2012 #74
Yeah, anthrax ammo for those lovable guns. There's the ticket! patrice Dec 2012 #79
Simple answer for ya: In many cases, ya can't. AverageJoe90 Dec 2012 #76
Can you conceal a Dodge Charger and walk into a movie theater with it? patrice Dec 2012 #78
Post removed Post removed Dec 2012 #88
History shows all sorts of things people have/could do, but, in the context of DU here & now, that patrice Dec 2012 #90
The problem is then.. Chico Man Dec 2012 #96
he's just trying to make excuses.... tulsakatz Dec 2012 #80
The FB post is wrong...neither the car or firearms are designed to kill. ileus Dec 2012 #89
I'm sorry, but that's just silly cali Dec 2012 #95
you don't ibegurpard Dec 2012 #91
A .233 caliber assault rifle isn't designed to kill people but a Dodge Charger is??? Initech Dec 2012 #100
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