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wasoxygen  ·  3005 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: How would you stop mass shootings?

I was initially disappointed by your insistence that everyone be an expert in firearm terminology before being allowed to argue, but I've come around. If someone wants to "control" something, but can't articulate what they want controlled, there are not arguing for any policy that can be implemented.

You may have seen this dialog in "Talking Productively About Guns."

https://popehat.com/2015/12/07/talking-productively-about-guns

Me: I don't want to take away dog owners' rights. But we need to do something about Rottweilers.

You: So what do you propose?

Me: I just think that there should be some sort of training or restrictions on owning an attack dog.

You: Wait. What's an "attack dog?"

Me: You know what I mean. Like military dogs.

You: Huh? Rottweilers aren't military dogs. In fact "military dogs" isn't a thing. You mean like German Shepherds?

Me: Don't be ridiculous. Nobody's trying to take away your German Shepherds. But civilians shouldn't own fighting dogs.

You: I have no idea what dogs you're talking about now.

Me: You're being both picky and obtuse. You know I mean hounds.

You: What the fuck.

Me: OK, maybe not actually ::air quotes:: hounds ::air quotes::. Maybe I have the terminology wrong. I'm not obsessed with vicious dogs like you. But we can identify kinds of dogs that civilians just don't need to own.

You: Can we?