Eeyore
Regular Member
imported post
I came up with this to illustrate a point. It's probably not an original idea, but I'm throwing it out for feedback.
[line]
End the Madness[/b]
It’s time to get serious about a scourge that puts us in danger day and night, in the streets, in our cars, at our workplace, and even in our homes. We have a right to demand that we can safely go about our lives, without fear of being killed.
Americans own millions of these death machines, which are responsible for over 35,000 deaths every year. Even more tragic, those deaths disproportionately affect young males. Tens of thousands fall into the wrong hands every year though theft and negligence, fueling criminal activity and an interstate black market. Their supporters claim that they serve a useful purpose other than killing, but we know better--the statistics speak for themselves.
Even though most states have training requirements to wield these instruments of destruction and limits on their use, these laws vary from state to state, are loosely enforced, and often those requirements are not very strict to begin with. Once a person has met these minimal requirements, there is no follow-up or continuation training required to ensure that they can own and operate these death machines in a safe, responsible, and legal manner. Even worse, thousands of people flaunt the law every day, operating without the required training or licensing.
One big obstacle is cultural: many Americans believe they have a “right” own these killing tools, and to live their lives every day in a way that endangers innocent people all around them. There even seems to be a perverse competition to own a “bigger, badder” version than anyone around. While these larger, more powerful machines may stroke the egos of their owners (what are they compensating for?), they are even more deadly to everyone around them. It doesn’t help that these tools of death are glorified on TV, movies, and video games. Think of all the money that's been wasted on these tools of destruction, and how much good might have been done with that money!
Another major obstacle to reform is the huge American and international companies that produce these death machines. Their annual sales amount to hundreds of millions of dollars every year in the U.S., and hundreds of millions more in the booming international trade. They have a powerful lobby in Congress that crushes any attempt to restrict the manufacture, sale, or ownership of their deadly product.
It’s time the American people told Congress to take action to restrict these horrible death machines. I am speaking, of course, about motor vehicles[/i]. They have been responsible for millions of deaths over the years. We aren’t even safe in our homes or businesses—they crash through the front windows! Irresponsible teenagers, drunks, and distracted drivers careen about daily with almost no consequences. When will the insanity end? We need to pass much stricter laws about motor vehicles. Maybe limit them to government use, or ban them altogether!
Reality Check[/b]
Did you think I was complaining about firearms? It’s true that there are approximately 29,000 deaths in the U.S. annually due to firearms. But considering the firearm death statistics include gang shootings, self-defense shootings, and police shootings of criminals, the number of “innocent” deaths is significantly lower. With that in mind, the number of annual highway deaths in the U.S.—between 35,000 and 40,000 each year since 2002 (according to NHTSA)—is almost double the number of per annum [/i]shooting deaths. But while there are many organizations dedicated to restricting or eliminating firearms, nobody is seriously advocating banning cars, or even stricter licensing and driver education.
Of course, even the motor vehicle fatalities pale in comparison to the number of deaths (over 1 million) caused every year by cardiac disease and diabetes—in other words, sloth and gluttony. So if we really wanted to save lives, should look into laws eliminating foods high in sugar, fat, and cholesterol. And maybe we should pass laws mandating physical exercise, too. Think that’s going to happen anytime soon?
I came up with this to illustrate a point. It's probably not an original idea, but I'm throwing it out for feedback.
[line]
End the Madness[/b]
It’s time to get serious about a scourge that puts us in danger day and night, in the streets, in our cars, at our workplace, and even in our homes. We have a right to demand that we can safely go about our lives, without fear of being killed.
Americans own millions of these death machines, which are responsible for over 35,000 deaths every year. Even more tragic, those deaths disproportionately affect young males. Tens of thousands fall into the wrong hands every year though theft and negligence, fueling criminal activity and an interstate black market. Their supporters claim that they serve a useful purpose other than killing, but we know better--the statistics speak for themselves.
Even though most states have training requirements to wield these instruments of destruction and limits on their use, these laws vary from state to state, are loosely enforced, and often those requirements are not very strict to begin with. Once a person has met these minimal requirements, there is no follow-up or continuation training required to ensure that they can own and operate these death machines in a safe, responsible, and legal manner. Even worse, thousands of people flaunt the law every day, operating without the required training or licensing.
One big obstacle is cultural: many Americans believe they have a “right” own these killing tools, and to live their lives every day in a way that endangers innocent people all around them. There even seems to be a perverse competition to own a “bigger, badder” version than anyone around. While these larger, more powerful machines may stroke the egos of their owners (what are they compensating for?), they are even more deadly to everyone around them. It doesn’t help that these tools of death are glorified on TV, movies, and video games. Think of all the money that's been wasted on these tools of destruction, and how much good might have been done with that money!
Another major obstacle to reform is the huge American and international companies that produce these death machines. Their annual sales amount to hundreds of millions of dollars every year in the U.S., and hundreds of millions more in the booming international trade. They have a powerful lobby in Congress that crushes any attempt to restrict the manufacture, sale, or ownership of their deadly product.
It’s time the American people told Congress to take action to restrict these horrible death machines. I am speaking, of course, about motor vehicles[/i]. They have been responsible for millions of deaths over the years. We aren’t even safe in our homes or businesses—they crash through the front windows! Irresponsible teenagers, drunks, and distracted drivers careen about daily with almost no consequences. When will the insanity end? We need to pass much stricter laws about motor vehicles. Maybe limit them to government use, or ban them altogether!
Reality Check[/b]
Did you think I was complaining about firearms? It’s true that there are approximately 29,000 deaths in the U.S. annually due to firearms. But considering the firearm death statistics include gang shootings, self-defense shootings, and police shootings of criminals, the number of “innocent” deaths is significantly lower. With that in mind, the number of annual highway deaths in the U.S.—between 35,000 and 40,000 each year since 2002 (according to NHTSA)—is almost double the number of per annum [/i]shooting deaths. But while there are many organizations dedicated to restricting or eliminating firearms, nobody is seriously advocating banning cars, or even stricter licensing and driver education.
Of course, even the motor vehicle fatalities pale in comparison to the number of deaths (over 1 million) caused every year by cardiac disease and diabetes—in other words, sloth and gluttony. So if we really wanted to save lives, should look into laws eliminating foods high in sugar, fat, and cholesterol. And maybe we should pass laws mandating physical exercise, too. Think that’s going to happen anytime soon?
