Supreme Court Allows the Texas Abortion Law to Remain. California Governor Newsom Plans to Draft a Similar Law to Control Assault Weapons/Ghost Guns

If a state can draft a law shielding itself from lawsuits on abortion, why shouldn't California and other blue states be able to enact gun control laws that cannot be challenged either?

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RedBaron · M

The main issue is that just as drug laws do nothing to prevent people from getting drugs and prohibition did nothing to prevent people from getting beer, wine, and liquor, gun laws do nothing to prevent people from getting guns. In Economics 101, you should have learned that in the absence of legal markets, illegal black markets will always provide supply to meet demand. So gun control laws sound good, but they won't curb gun violence.

windinhishair · 61-69, M

@RedBaron While gun control laws won't stop gun violence for the reasons you noted, reduced availability of firearms will over time reduce gun violence, particularly with gun crimes like school shootings that depend on availability.

RedBaron · M

@windinhishair Not really. Black markets will simply provide supply to meet the demand. Basic market economics always trumps wishful thinking.

windinhishair · 61-69, M

@RedBaron I would be interested to see how black markets reach 13- and 14-year old boys who make a snap decision to kill classmates. I don't see it happening, particularly since nations that have implemented strict gun controls have seen a decrease in gun crime. Does the black market bypass those countries?

RedBaron · M

@windinhishair Kids have parents, cousins, uncles, etc., as we saw in Michigan. People can get whatever they want, legally or otherwise.

windinhishair · 61-69, M

@RedBaron The fewer assault weapons we have, the fewer gun deaths there will be. It really is pretty simple.

RedBaron · M

@windinhishair True enough, but laws often don't make much of a difference.

windinhishair · 61-69, M

@RedBaron Gun control laws do work, but it took us a long time to get to where we are in the US now, and will take a long time to reverse the damage. It is a long-term process, but you have to start somewhere.

RedBaron · M

@windinhishair But what makes you think that gun laws would be any more effective than prohibition or drug laws? Market forces are virtually immutable.

windinhishair · 61-69, M

@RedBaron Because they will result in fewer guns in the marketplace, and fewer guns leads to fewer gun deaths. I agree with you that someone intent in obtaining a weapon of mass killing can obtain one illegally, but not everyone will do so. I think we probably agree on this issue more than we disagree. Where we disagree is that I believe the (at least initially) marginal improvement is a start and worthwhile, whereas you see it as completely ineffective. I get it, but we have to start somewhere, and I believe we would see modest changes that increase over time.

Playfulanddaring

@windinhishair bullshit criminals don't buy guns in retail settings or complete background checks. Why do you think the crime and looting all over the TV isn't happening in red states?

windinhishair · 61-69, M

@Playfulanddaring Crime is up in red states just as it is in blue and purple ones. I suggest you review your TV viewership for not presenting you with the facts and reality.