I have found the perfect horror-novel to frighten gun-nuts: "Harry Potter"

[DetlefK]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by krispos42 (a host of the Gun Control & RKBA group).

What is worse than "They want to take our guns?"

I'll tell you something scarier: "They don't care about our guns."



Imagine there's a world with wizards, or aliens, or vampires, or something like that. They are here, they are foreign, they don't give a shit about you... and they are bulletproof.

Just imagine the horror for gun-nuts if there really were "Harry Potter"-style wizards.
Strangers. Weirdos.
And that gun you own for feeling safe, that gun that you hold up as a symbol of individual freedom, that gun that you own to feel powerful... If you threaten these guys with a gun, they give you the finger and go about their business, totally unimpressed.

"We don't mean any harm to you and we don't feel threatend in any way by your gun. We don't mind it. If it makes you happy, by all means, keep your gun."



What is true horror for religious believers?
It's not atheists taking over. Because at least atheists have passionate opinions on religion.
True horror is the creeping and growing lack of interest in religious topics as a whole.

What is true horror for a gun-nut?
It's not somebody coming for your guns. Because at least then you would have an enemy you can point your fingers and guns at.
True horror would be a world where owning a gun no longer matters. A world where nobody feels threatened by guns. Your guns.



If it were revealed that those "Harry Potter"-wizards are real and that they are bulletproof (because magic), how long would it take for them to demand that the wizards remove their bulletproof magic and become vulnerable to guns?
How long would it take for the gun-nuts to demand that they deserve the freedom to have magic and wands?
The freedom to cast horrible and mutilating spells?
You know, purely for self-defense?
Just in case?

Or how about living in paradise?
Life is comfortable, and if anybody dies for whatever reason, he/she will be back a few days later after being resurrected in a clone-tank. Death would be meaningless.
In a world where people don't fear death, weapons would be meaningless.
"Oh, you have a gun? Whatever."
A world, where your security is no longer in your own hands but guaranteed by some kind of benevolent patron.
How long would it take for the gun-nuts to demand to be in control of those resurrection-tanks?
You know, just to make sure nothing bad happens?
Just in case?

[jmg257]

1. Bullet-proof Death-eaters who want to take over the world and kill or enslave all non-magical folk..

Very charming...a bit like Nazis that whole bit (except for the bullet-proof part - for the Nazis I mean).

Thank God for Harry, Hermoine, & Ron, the entire Order of the Phoenix, &c!

It really does take a good guy with a wand to stop a bad guy with a wand.


"Molon Laberious" - spell to disarm muggles and squibs

[DetlefK]

2. You misunderstood my point.

The point was that these bulletproof folks are no actual threat. But they are a bulletproof HYPOTHETICAL threat.
Just like the hypothetical threat of the US-government taking up arms against its own people and conquering Texas.
Just like the hypothetical threat of dying from a terrorist attack.

I tried to make the point that they fear a situation where their arms become irrelevant, in both good and bad.
A situation where their self-defense paranoia no longer makes sense.
A situation where the repsonsibility of self-defense is shifted from them personally to some kind of patron.
A situation where their power to cause death, for selfish goals or in self-defense, no longer exists.



Sure. Good-guys-with-a-wand stopped Voldemort.
But you are not one of those guys. And you never will be.
The horror is, not being in control and instead relying on others.

[beergood]

3. "Just like the hypothetical threat of dying from a terrorist attack."

terrorist threats aren't hypothetical.


"Sure. Good-guys-with-a-wand stopped Voldemort.
But you are not one of those guys. And you never will be."

who are the good guys? the police who are know to abuse their power and disproportionately target minorities? who do you call/rely on to protect you?

[DetlefK]

5. re

300 million citizens. Excluding 9/11, how many US-citizens have been killed on US-soil by terrorists? A few hundred? That still puts the odds at 1:1,000,000. Over the course of a decade.


The US-police sucks, compared to other police. Yes. Innocent people die and it's their fault.
However:
Which terrorists who attacked the US are still at large? Which terrorists have bested US law-enforcement?

[beergood]

8. does that mean

you are against the terrorists watch lists/no-fly list?

[jmg257]

6. Hypotheticals and fictions are fun. That's what makes it such an interesting & quaint

OP.

I guess it is true - there could be a reality with only good bullet-proof wizards...likely wouldn't make much of a story... "Harry Potter, the boy who didn't do anything special"...might not need 7 books to tell it though.


Actually, I was one of those guys for a number of years; never had to shoot it out with a bad guy, quite glad of that too.
But there was no mistaking why we carried (guns, not wands).


"not being in control and instead relying on others, shifting responsibility to some kind of patron." can indeed be a bit scary sometimes...leaves much to chance, and takes a lot of trust (or faith, if you prefer).

Though it could make a difference if it was Daniel Radcliff we all relied on for our safety - he could cast an "Aspis Totalalus" spell and shield us all from harm!

[sarisataka]

4. Meanwhile back in the real world

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141495020

[Nuclear Unicorn]

7. You're seriously judging people by fantasies you've constructed in your imagination?

[Straw Man]

9. What a world, what a world ...

A world, where your security is no longer in your own hands but guaranteed by some kind of benevolent patron.

If my security is absolutely guaranteed by a benevolent patron, why would I need a gun?

Why, to shoot trap, of course! And skeet. And .22 rimfire rifle competition. And bullseye pistol.

Would our benevolent patrons still let us do that? If so, I'd be cool with that.

How about hunting? Will animals be resurrected too if they die? If I kill and animal and eat it, how much do I have to leave in order to clone it? Actually, in paradise, will we still have to eat? If not, will we still have to poop? These are important questions, and I really want to know.

[Puha Ekapi]

10. If your Auntie...

...had balls, she'd be your uncle

[krispos42]

11. Locking

The scenario painted is outside the scope of the SoP of the Group. GCRA might allow it, and there are other places on DU where this can be played out.

Regards,
Krispos42, Group Host