STEELMANNING THREAD! (something to try now that we all have 280...) Rules: 1a. Post arguments/positions you'd like to see steeled. —or— 1b. Jump in and help steel the args/positions others have posted. 2. NO DEBATES. Only argue *in favor* of the point in question. 3. Be kind.
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A possible interpretation of "lax" w.r.t gun laws might be to favor laws that focus on harm reduction, safety, training, and a culture of responsibility. This is opposed to more "strict" laws that seek to ban and confiscate more indiscriminately.
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Constitutional interpretation is relevant here too. I think we can give significant weight to the intent of the 2nd amendment without being reduced to originalists or other contrived positions.
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I don't think the 2nd amendment is very ambiguous. Here is the entire text "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
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The intent seems to clearly be for civilians to be independent of the State to provide their own security. Weapons were seen as necessary to ensure that self-provided security was a possibility in this society.
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So of particular relevance in considering which laws and regulations to enact on weapons, is this concern that civilians are indendepent and free people and that we are forewarned by the constitution's authors that depending upon the police is not liberty.
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There is a tacit encouragement towards "well regulated" vigilantism here. That is, a Militia is specifically not a professional body. It is amateur (though hopefully not untrained). The view that non-professionals could perform this role seems antiquated.
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But can it be salvaged? I'm not sure. Maybe it ought to be though, given the problems our professional police are having in controlling gun violence, and in controlling their own use of guns.
End of conversation
New conversation -
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