The debate is not a new one, or at least the arguments I'm seeing are not the least bit creative.
It's the old: "Address the item, not the behavior" plan of action.
You got a problem with people shooting people? >>Ban firearms.
You got a problem with people driving and using cells >>Ban cells in cars.
You got a problem with people being assholes with fireworks >> Ban fireworks.
You got a problem with teenage drinking >>Raise drinking age. (Ban teenage drinking)
You got a problem with teenage pregnancy >>Ban sex education. (Oh wait, we're trying that plan in schools right now...."abstinence only"....right....)
You got a problem with "insert item here" >> Ban item.
It's an effective way to reduce the incidence of whatever's bothering you, at least until you start thinking about it deeply. Then most of it falls apart.
There's no way I'm dumb enough to get involved in a debate on firearms laws (in this thread anyway), drinking laws, or the effectiveness of fireworks laws. I will debate the principle of banning an artifact rather than the behavior.
The article linked earlier about a guy driving a truck getting shot in the head by a firework is a fine example of bad behavior. I do not see it as an example of how fireworks are inherently evil. But, I see how someone else could see it that way. I don’t agree, of course, but I can see where false logic would lead someone else.
The bottle rocket didn't shoot itself into the guy's truck. The 8 kids with no supervision did. They particular tools they used certainly have more potential for damage than say, a bag of cotton balls.
We could say, “Use fireworks like an ASSHOLE, and we’ll treat you like one." But, that’s too reactive for some people, so we ban fireworks. I shot off a ton of fireworks on the 3rd. It had rained 4 days in the previous week, so everything was nice and moist. Had it been really dry (like it was before all that good rain) I’d like to think I’m smart enough to have sucked it up and not shot them. Anyway, I aimed the stuff into an empty field, and didn’t hold any thing while it went off; except some sparklers. My wife and I enjoyed them. When we were done, I wet down the big tubes (the display tubes that shoot sparks and stuff up in the air) and we swept up all the crap in the street from our little show. Then we threw the stuff away. That was socially responsible behavior.
If only more people understood that everyday actions shape how other people react.
Unfortunately, we can't ban people with anti-social, or irresponsible, behavior patterns. Instead we try and regulate the materials they have available to be irresponsible with. I’m afraid to break it to the general population, but after seeing some of the idiots I’ve seen through life, we’re not going to solve our issues like this until we put a large number of people in padded rooms.
I’ve seen dumbasses that can cause problems with leaf blowers. Guy blowing leaves into his neighbor’s yard, neighbor does not appreciate this. Is the solution to ban leaf blowers?
No, but we could draw and argue piddley little examples like this all day. The point never changes. Society can suck it up and attempt to address behavior, or ban things until there’s nothing left to get in trouble with. We’ll see where it goes, but it should be obvious where we’re going at this point in our society.
Edit:
I came accross this just now.
article
Quote:
ALBUQUERQUE -- Doctors are trying to save the life of an Albuquerque baby shot in the head by a bullet that fell from the sky Monday night. The bullet was likely fired into the air during a July 4th celebration.
The 11-month-old, named Alyssa, is being treated at UNM hospital and is in critical condition.
While she is fighting to stay alive, police are trying to find out who put her there.
One Monday night Alyssa’s family was wrapping up their 4th of July party at their grandmother’s house in southwest Albuquerque.
Alyssa's grandmother was just holding the baby in her driveway on Sunbow Court when the baby suddenly cried out and blood began to drip from her head.
“(The Bullet) entered in rear quadrant (of the baby’s head) and exited out and embedded into shoulder,” says John Walsh of the Albuquerque Police Department.
Police have recovered the bullet and have determined it came from a high caliber gun. Forensics tests will help determine more.
Police say finding the person who fired the gun could be tough. Depending on the caliber or gunpowder, the bullet could have traveled anywhere between a few hundred yards up to a mile.
That's why police are asking for help identifying anyone who was firing a high caliber gun in southwest Albuquerque on Monday night.
Alyssa did undergo surgery to help repair the gunshot wound in her head and shoulder. She remains in pediatric intensive care.
If you have any information about someone firing a gun Monday, you’re asked to call 242-COPS.
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Now that shit, that pisses me off. It still wasn't the gun though, it was the asshole who shot it in the air. Man I hate that. I hope by some miracle they find that guy.