Guns are also very effective for threatening people, even if nobody gets shot. There is a legitimate use as a power equalizer for self defense, like if someone breaks into a house and there’s an old dude in a wheelchair with a shotgun, they’ll probably turn around and leave. But also it enables strongarm robberies.
Not really sure what that means, but if you’re not clear on it, the threat when someone is robbing you with a gun is that they’ll shoot you. They could pistol whip you instead, I guess.
What it means is, the only function for a gun is death. It remains a tool whose sole purpose is to kill. Threatening to use a thing, for its purpose, does not change its purpose. It’s not an extra bonus feature.
Guns are also very effective for threatening people, even if nobody gets shot. There is a legitimate use as a power equalizer for self defense, like if someone breaks into a house and there’s an old dude in a wheelchair with a shotgun, they’ll probably turn around and leave. But also it enables strongarm robberies.
It’s a deterrent because it’s an escalation from theft to manslaughter. And people are afraid of it explicitly because it’s only a tool used to kill
Great at maiming, too.
Threatening people with what?
When someone is mugged with a gun, or a store is held up by someone with a gun, do I need to explain what they’re being threatened with?
You do if you’re trying to yeah-but some other function for guns.
Not really sure what that means, but if you’re not clear on it, the threat when someone is robbing you with a gun is that they’ll shoot you. They could pistol whip you instead, I guess.
What it means is, the only function for a gun is death. It remains a tool whose sole purpose is to kill. Threatening to use a thing, for its purpose, does not change its purpose. It’s not an extra bonus feature.
That it is a function is precisely what I’m positing, but if you don’t agree, okay.
Then it’s not an “also.”
I’m not really sure what your point is. Mine is that guns can serve a harmful function even if not ever used to shoot anyone.