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Lori Klein, Arizona State Senator, Pointed Loaded Gun At Reporter Richard Ruelas's Chest

There's a lot to be shocked and appalled at in that story - like, say, the fact that this woman sees nothing wrong with casually pointing loaded guns at people - but I think what gets me the most is this quote:

In Arizona, Klein's handgun has become a symbol of the gun control debate, and while she supports those who want the right to carry guns, she says it's a personal choice that she isn't forcing on anyone.

"I don't like chocolate ice cream," she told the Arizona Republic. "Am I going to force you not to have any?"

You know, I'm more on the "gun control" side of the spectrum than the "gun activists!" side of the spectrum (and it's worth noting that the gun activist quoted in the article thinks this woman needs to NOT HAVE GUNS until she learns not to point them at people!), but I can see how reasonable, thinking people can look at the evidence and look at the second amendment and come out with two different opinions on the subject. Or three, or four, or five different opinions!

I don't see how comparing guns to chocolate ice cream counts as reasonable. I'm upset on the behalf of gun activists that she just made them all look stupid by association, and I'm furious on behalf of women and, y'know, people. Seriously. CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM? I'm not going to bother prying it out of your cold dead hands, because... well, I can't bring this analogy any further.

An Austrian driver has won the right to wear a pasta strainer in his driver's license photo. It's religious headgear. Apparently.

Owner of Killer Bear Chokes to Death on Sex Toy

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Comments

Re: As for chocolate ice cream:

[elenbarathi.livejournal.com]

Chocolate ice cream makes some people sick when they eat it, not when somebody else eats it. People who get sick from ice cream may choose not to eat it. People who don't eat ice cream are not in the least bit threatened by other people eating it, because there's no way those other peoples' dietary choices can affect their own bodies.

This is why ice cream is a ridiculous metaphor for firearms. Yes, you can kill yourself with ice cream if you work hard enough at it, even if you're not a bit allergic to the stuff. No doubt there are plenty of anorexics and bulimics who feel 'horrified revulsion' at the thought of chocolate ice cream, but that's neither here nor there. How many murders, suicides, and fatal accidents every year are attributed to chocolate ice cream?

Since chocolate ice cream is not a controlled substance and nobody feels any need to lobby the government about it one way or the other, let's try a couple metaphors that fits the facts a bit better:

1. "I don't like tobacco," she told the Arizona Republic. "Am I going to force you not to have any?"

2. ""I don't like marijuana," she told the Arizona Republic. "Am I going to force you not to have any?"

3. "I don't like cocaine," she told the Arizona Republic. "Am I going to force you not to have any?"

Re: As for chocolate ice cream:

[marveen.livejournal.com]

I don't care for Budweiser, am I going to force you not to have any?

Yeah, sure I am: Prohibition works, every time, without fail.

Re: As for chocolate ice cream:

[elenbarathi.livejournal.com]

As we all can see by the stunnung success of the War on Drugs at creating a drug-free America.

Seriously, the big fallacy in Lori Klein's metaphor is the equating of something that doesn't hurt other people with something that is specifically designed for that purpose. .

It's similar to Richard Dawkin's recent claim that getting hit on in a hotel elevator by a strange man at 4:00 AM was no worse than sharing an elevator with a noisy gum-chewer. If Richard Dawkins himself were ever to get hit on in a hotel elevator by a strange man at 4:00 AM, he would soon learn the difference between feeling annoyed by someone's 'preferences' and being threatened by their behavior.

So will Ms. Klein if anyone ever sticks a loaded gun in HER face.

Re: As for chocolate ice cream:

[marveen.livejournal.com]

Well-said.