Quote:
Originally Posted by Ostfriese
In addition to that:
The "tool" doesn't exist in a vacuum. Besides their function as a killing "tool" (unlike a knife they don't have another function) they are a symbol, and they influence people in a negative, damaging way, and especially young people have a hard time resisting these influences.
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No the tool doesn't exist in a vacuum which is kind of the point but it's irrelevant how many uses you can get out of rifle that doesn't involve killing (although I can think of three off the top of my head) as human rights, especially constitutionally protected ones, do not have to be justified.
Another thing one should realize is that abuse of a right does not justify denying it to everyone. There's a fine legal term (in Latin no less) that Platapus is fond of which illustrates this principle. If it did we would soon have no rights at all, because they all have been abused at some point somehow.
The problem is not guns any more than SUVs were the problem in the Black Racist attack on that parade in Wisconsin last winter. The problem is how we ignore lunacy like that until it's too late.