Hey You With The Gun...Yeah, YOU

[thucythucy]

75. You're talking about what? Alcohol, drugs?

I see where you're going, and it's a tough question, given what I just said.

Certainly, if I thought MY alcohol consumption was a threat to others, I'd try not to drink. And if I saw someone else's drinking as a threat, I'd do what I could to intervene.

But no, I wouldn't make alcohol illegal. And I'm in favor of legalizing or decriminalizing most drugs. But like my motorboat analogy, I'm not certain this is a perfect fit. But like I said, it's a tough question for me to have to answer.

It's interesting that you mention this, though. I read a DU thread the other day (and you can do a site search to find it) that over time shooting a gun affects the same parts of the brain, releasing the same endorphines, as cocaine and other drug use. That target shooting is in fact addictive, in much the same way drugs (or gambling) are addictive. Which would explain to me why it's so tough for people who are really into it to consider giving it up.

So perhaps we should treat gun violence as a public health issue, and undo the NRA sponsored legislation that prevented the CDC from doing research in that direction?

I answered your question, so now please answer mine. Regardless of whether or not we make assault weapons illegal, doesn't it concern you at all, the thought that the instrument of your pleasure might someday quite literally become the instrument of someone else's death?

Given what happened in Connecticut, hasn't that thought ever crossed your mind?