[superleeds]

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Well said. Just as we need to keep guns out of the hands of kids, we need to keep anything they can screw up out of the hands of the incompetent. How about starting with gambling? If we eliminate gambling, we can eliminate the suffering caused by those who neglect the economic well-being of their families by stuffing their paychecks into slot machines. They are probably drinking while they do that, so let's eliminate alcohol too. Those are some serious areas of neglect, probably a lot worse than guns. I'm sure the great minds here can come up with a host of things we can do to legislate personal responsibility. If they can't, I recommend Al Gore and John Kerry as sources.

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Whilst it is true many more children are hurt by their parents inability to control themselves over personal vices it is not quite the same as a child being injured or injuring another because they found their parents 'toy'. Having said that you are making a very valid argument and I have no counter-argument. I draw a line where I believe restrictions are fair and where they are not. As far as guns are concerned I believe the laws of the US and nearly all its states fall short.

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One of the symptoms of insanity is repeating the same action while expecting a different result. I'm guessing that about half the people reading this do not see the absurdity of that quote.

Let me rephrase the concept:

1. We have restrictions on guns, especially as regards access by children.

2. Parents are negligent, and don't always follow those restrictions.

3. Therefore we need more, and stronger, restrictions.

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You presume that the current restrictions are sufficient and that further restrictions will do little to avert future tradegies. I do not.

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If negligent parents are not following the current restrictions (because they are too burdensome, or they simple can't be bothered), what on earth would lead anyone to think that they would follow even stronger restrictions?

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If your saying that enforcement is a big part of the problem then you are right but that doesn't mean that existing laws are enough.

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You cannot legislate away stupidity and incompetence. You can't make your house 100% child-safe, and you can't make the world 100% idiot-safe.

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So don't try?