On the subject of evil and firearms

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Nathaniel Firethorn

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I'm thoroughly convinced that there is such a thing as evil in the world. And we won't see the end to things like Newtown until we can sort out the causes.

Firearms are machines. They aren't inherently any more evil than a circular saw. But they certainly can be used for evil purposes.

But -- and I know this is going to be highly controversial here -- I have in recent days begun to wonder if evil people are attracted to firearms as a way to play out evil fantasies. And maybe evil people are attracted to certain firearms more than others, because they fit better into those fantasies.

Mods, feel free to shut this thread down if it gets out of hand.

- NF
 
While we can't know the mind of Lanza, or others, there's probably more than a grain of truth in what you state. Just as arsonists, in many cases are drawn to fire for its power, evil folks are probably drawn to guns, because of the gun's inherent power when used. But, guns are only one of many ways for evil to manifest itself.

Like any inanimate object, the gun is only dangerous when put in the hands of a thinking being, the same as a pencil, power drill, hammer, etc.

When Timothy McVeigh mixed fertilizer and diesel fuel, he knew full-well the potential. Until he set the "fuse", those two items are harmless. But McVeigh was evil, and no amount of prison time would have "rehabilitated" him. When the school in Bath, Michigan was dynamited in 1927, killing 44, it demonstrated that efficiency in killing can't be done with a gun. Evil finds a way to do its damage.

Evil has to be stopped, and usually with counter-deadly force.
 
"Evil" is a philosophical and theological value judgement. It's not relevant if you are applying a rational standard in dealing with events. The concept of "evil" is useless in predicting specific behavior. Mental illness, on the other hand, provides a more concrete explanation.
 
The unfortunate reality of the matter is that this world is often violent, dangerous and hostile.

Is it not our duty to bear arms, fight and eliminate threats?
 
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