The Rabbi
Member
This book, by Tom Diaz, who of course is a former member of the NRA and gun owner, purports to be an expose of the gun industry. Since I work in that industry I thought it would be fun to see what he says.
His first point is that even though the gun industry invokes patriotism, heritage etc etc the real reason they exist is to make money. Lots of it.
I guess this is different from people in the computer industry who are out to bring world peace, or the banking industry which wants to bring harmony to all men.
His next and consistent point is that a lot of transactions go unrecorded and unreported in a shadowy secondary market.
This is perfectly true. Once the gun leaves the stream of manufacturer to wholesaler to retailer to customer there is (save in a few states) nothing that requires notification of anyone else.
I have learned (from being in home schooling) that there is a certain ethos that cannot stand the idea that large numbers of people are engaging in an activity that cannot be monitored (and regulated and taxed) by the gov't. I can't explain why but if it can't be quantified in some way, it must be evil. Some people just see things like that. I suspect this is a major divide in this country: people want everything to be known and accessible versus people who are comfortable letting others do their thing.
It suggests why some people will never be won over to the pro gun side. Our differences are fundamental and go way beyond guns.
I think it is good to read anti literature sometimes to see what kinds of points they are making and arguments they are using. If nothing else, it makes us sharpen ours a bit more.
His first point is that even though the gun industry invokes patriotism, heritage etc etc the real reason they exist is to make money. Lots of it.
I guess this is different from people in the computer industry who are out to bring world peace, or the banking industry which wants to bring harmony to all men.
His next and consistent point is that a lot of transactions go unrecorded and unreported in a shadowy secondary market.
This is perfectly true. Once the gun leaves the stream of manufacturer to wholesaler to retailer to customer there is (save in a few states) nothing that requires notification of anyone else.
I have learned (from being in home schooling) that there is a certain ethos that cannot stand the idea that large numbers of people are engaging in an activity that cannot be monitored (and regulated and taxed) by the gov't. I can't explain why but if it can't be quantified in some way, it must be evil. Some people just see things like that. I suspect this is a major divide in this country: people want everything to be known and accessible versus people who are comfortable letting others do their thing.
It suggests why some people will never be won over to the pro gun side. Our differences are fundamental and go way beyond guns.
I think it is good to read anti literature sometimes to see what kinds of points they are making and arguments they are using. If nothing else, it makes us sharpen ours a bit more.