Hey, It's Just a Tool

Submitted by Bill St. Clair on Fri, 26 May 2006 09:46:52 GMT  <== RKBA ==> 

Joe at ESR's blog - a comment on ESR's post about a death threat he received via email. The commenter didn't leave an email address or web site from which to request permission, so I'm copying the whole thing here without asking.

adrian10> "where constantly having to restrain yourself from offing your nearest and dearest should they ask you to take out the trash in the wrong tone of voice or fail to put their toys away will keep you on your ethical toes."

I guess I'm having a hard time understanding the thought process that brought this forth. Can I attack this from another angle?

I have a lawn mower. As I'm walking across the carpet in my living room I don't have to "restrain" my "urge" to use my lawnmower on it. I mean, the mower could in fact cut it.

I own a saw, by brand it's a Super Sawzall. When I look at my coffee pot I don't have to "restrain" my "urge" to cut it in two with my sawzall. It could in fact do that.

I own a hammer. When my automobile needs the oil changed I don't need to restrain my urge to smash the windshield with the hammer.

A weapon is a tool. It has a purpose. I own literally thousands of tools. Does this mean I walk about is some type of haze with a burning need to use them? Well, um, no. You've raised the status of weapons from their normal existance to some kind of Hollywood style evil. Media influence on you perhaps? Unfamiliarity? I'd bet on the latter. If you get an "urge" to use a pistol everytime your wife speaks to you crossly, you'd not be a good candidate to own a weapon, kitchen knives, lawnmowers, saws, hedge clippers, or anything else for that matter. You'd be a good candidate for a straight jacket. So your question was kind of invalid. Nutters are nutters and ownership, or lack thereof, of any tool isn't really associated with that.

"Nevertheless, we are invited to contemplate the idea that 'the conscious handling of instruments deliberately designed to kill' will raise one towards levels of awareness attained by the Founding Fathers after years of armed revolution against the British."

I understand that growing up in England, and living in Japan, breeds a certain unfamiliarity with certain objects. It's normal. Other areas would lend an unfamiliarity with other deadly objects. Grab somebody from London and take them for a walk through the Everglades. They'd be terrified of being near the local reptiles. Are the reptiles deadly? Yes. But there are some huge caveats to that. I grew up in an area with lots of bears. Are they cute? No, they are deadly. If you see one will it chase you down, follow you into your living room, and beat you to death on the sofa? No. It's just a bear.

Would it be fair to suggest that you never go to Africa? I hear there are lions there. Very deadly. Designed to kill. So is a sword. Grab a sword, swing it once or twice. Feel the need to off the wife? Thought not. Grab an axe. Feel the need to off a child? No? Hey, it's just a tool.

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Comments (1):

Excellent rebuttal: I'll use

Submitted by jml1911a1 on Fri, 26 May 2006 15:55:39 GMT

Excellent rebuttal: I'll use this on my RE broker (she's sortof anti-gun, for reasons similar to those refuted above).

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