It's just another day, and I see another pro-gun Facebook meme being posted which has failed-in-Critical-Thinking-class written all over it (figuratively speaking, of course).
The meme says the following:
"When there's a bombing,
we blame the BOMBER.
When there's a drunk-driving accident,
we blame the DRIVER.
Why, when there's a shooting,
do we blame the GUN?"
Both of these comparisons fail miserably. First off, creating a bomb is illegal. Wonder why Congress doesn't push for more bomb-control legislation? Because there isn't a need for any, since making bombs is illegal. It is legal for most people of a certain age to purchase and own a gun. This is why some members of Congress have pushed for stricter gun-control laws. This lack of logic brings back memories of my Critical Thinking professor, where he would blurt out, "Fail!" at such a lousy comparison.
With regard to driving, like with purchasing a gun, it is legal for most people of a certain age. However, there are more obstacles to get through when it comes to legally being able to drive an automobile than to own a firearm, in a majority of states anyhow. Drivers are required to have X hours of training, to pass a visual, written, and driver's test, and then to get their license renewed every four years and possibly go through the same process again if they've had any troubles on the road. Whether there's an accident or not, though, driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal. There are laws in place to prevent people from driving while intoxicated. These laws could be referred to as drunk-driving-control laws. In other words, they're already in place, as opposed to stricter gun-control legislation, so once again, this comparison fails on multiple levels.
Also, I think many far-right gun enthusiasts fail to see the two essential components to scenarios like the three I mentioned before.
It's not just the bomber's fault or the bomb's fault. Without a bomb, there would be no bomber.
It's not just the driver's fault or the alcohol's fault. Without the alcohol, there would be no drunk-driver.
It's not just the shooter's fault or the gun's fault. Without the firearm, there would be no shooter.
Yeah, like with other such memes before it, this one has failed-in-Critical-Thinking-class written all over it...
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