The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Doctors target gun violence as a social disease

**44 AMP** · August 14, 2012, 12:36 PM

This idea has cropped up several times before, and likely will again. The concept that undesirable behavior is a disease has been with us for a long time. All that seems to change is the specific area of focus.

At one time, homosexuality was classified as a disease. A mental disorder. Today, that is not the case. One must wonder at what will, or will not be classified as a disease tomorrow.

Words like "disease" and "epidemic" are thrown around carelessly and without any sense of responsibility these days. Anything widespread is referred to as an epidemic. Anything deemed socially incorrect, a disease.

Personally, all I see is another attempt at a power grab by bureaucrats in lab coats and stethescopes. By making something a "disease" then it falls under their purview, and that means money.

The fact that there is an emotional connection with public safety (and therefore "health") is just grease for their skids.

We have an epidemic of obesity (leaving aside the fact that by changing their parameters on what is "obese", the epidemic is falsely created), we have an epidemic of gun violence. We have an epidemic of people claiming we have epidemics.

Follow the money. Money, prestige, influence and power, all will be increased to the followers of the cult of "gun violence epidemic" if this idea is allowed to firmly take root in the public conciousness.

And don't count on any of the "progressive" politicians standing in the way. This benefits them, as well.

Once again, we see the root idea that an inanimate object (in this case a gun) is capable of directing or controlling human behavior. We cannot be responsible, it must be something else that has caused this....

The real problem is not guns, nor the availability of guns, but that so many people are so willing to shoot other people.

We are a long way from the days when shooting someone for fun and profit got you (ultimately) hung, gassed, shot, or electrocuted, in a timely manner and on a regular basis. I know there are many, many other causes, but I cannot help but think that this might have something to do with the problem we face today.

August 14, 2012, 12:36 PM	#36
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,839	Focus on the rhetoric, but follow the money... This idea has cropped up several times before, and likely will again. The concept that undesirable behavior is a disease has been with us for a long time. All that seems to change is the specific area of focus. At one time, homosexuality was classified as a disease. A mental disorder. Today, that is not the case. One must wonder at what will, or will not be classified as a disease tomorrow. Words like "disease" and "epidemic" are thrown around carelessly and without any sense of responsibility these days. Anything widespread is referred to as an epidemic. Anything deemed socially incorrect, a disease. Personally, all I see is another attempt at a power grab by bureaucrats in lab coats and stethescopes. By making something a "disease" then it falls under their purview, and that means money. The fact that there is an emotional connection with public safety (and therefore "health") is just grease for their skids. We have an epidemic of obesity (leaving aside the fact that by changing their parameters on what is "obese", the epidemic is falsely created), we have an epidemic of gun violence. We have an epidemic of people claiming we have epidemics. Follow the money. Money, prestige, influence and power, all will be increased to the followers of the cult of "gun violence epidemic" if this idea is allowed to firmly take root in the public conciousness. And don't count on any of the "progressive" politicians standing in the way. This benefits them, as well. Once again, we see the root idea that an inanimate object (in this case a gun) is capable of directing or controlling human behavior. We cannot be responsible, it must be something else that has caused this.... The real problem is not guns, nor the availability of guns, but that so many people are so willing to shoot other people. We are a long way from the days when shooting someone for fun and profit got you (ultimately) hung, gassed, shot, or electrocuted, in a timely manner and on a regular basis. I know there are many, many other causes, but I cannot help but think that this might have something to do with the problem we face today. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.