I think we'd need a more specific definition of "fear-mongering"
for this to work. Much fear is perfectly rational, and a sound basis for
lawmaking. The Revolution was fought partly because of a fear of further
British abuses. The Constitution was created because of various well-founded
fears. The Bill of Rights was enacted because of fear of government abuse.
Likewise, fear of terrorism, drugs, gun crime, and so on is generally quite
reasonable.
Now perhaps "fear-mongering" means arguing based on unreasonable
fears (in which case the objection isn't to "playing the fear card" but to
"playing the fear card in a context where the fear is unreasonable"). But I
don't think there's anything unreasonable in fearing that privately owned guns
will be misused for criminal purposes - they are, hundreds of thousands times a
year.
The sound objection to gun bans, I think, is that while gun
crime is properly feared, trying to ban guns would do more harm than good. But
I don't think that talk of "fear-mongering" adequately captures the argument.
Eugene
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Raymond Kessler
Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 7:18 AM
To: [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: Playing the fear card in the 2nd Amend. incorp. debate.
IMHO & FWIW: One of the greatest threats to civil liberties comes from
fear-mongering. Whether the fear comes from the left or right (e.g., of
terrorism, fear of drugs, fear of guns, etc.), it is a threat. The fear
campaign against incorporating the 2nd amend has started. (see link, there are
numerous others) Look for amicus briefs for McD from Dave Kopel and Don Kates
and others that deal with the gun-crime issue. The bloodbaths predicted after
many states licensed concealed carry never occurred. Society has not collapsed
since June, 2008. Nobody ever said the Second Amendment is absolute. In Heller
the Court strongly hinted that many traditional gun control laws would be
valid. Further, there is no convincing evidence that ordinary law-abiding
citizens having common weapons is a cause of crime. Chicken Little is alive
and well, prospering in this propaganda campaign.
http://www.indystar.com/article/20091111/OPINION01/911110323/1002/OPINION/Time+to+re-examine+rights+of+Second+Amendment
Ray Kessler
Prof. of Criminal Justice
Sul Ross State Univ.
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