Insidb said:
To corroborate Norm's assertion, the auto industry is way, WAY, WAAAAAAAAAAAAY more regulated than the firearms industry. Whether it be emissions standards, safety standards, or performance standards, it is MUCH harder to get a car street legal than it is to get a gun to market. In fact (I can say this with absolutely certainty.), firearms manufacturers can essentially produce any class of firearm with barely any regulatory agency oversight or QA. In addition to that, permission to operate and automobile is far more prohibitive than to acquire a gun. Written tests are a prerequisite for permits, permits are a prerequisite for road tests, and road tests are a prerequsitite for being issued a license. That process also requires direct supervision until its completion by another licensed driver, with restrictions. Being an automobile owner with a license doesn't even grant you the right to operate the vehicle, because you need to buy insurance, to protect others from the risk you pose by operating the vehicle. Now, compare this to the ease with which you can acquire a fire arm, via the permit process or private sale, or the ease with which you can operate a firearm, via family or friend. The whole "auto accidents cause way more deaths, and we aren't regulating them" argument is, in fact, wholly disingeneous. The industry is heavily refulated, despite its intent of use being wholly benign. |
i was making the point that the suicide data posted there is dubious
in terms of car regulations that stuff is all great and everything but the use of alcohol renders it all null and void and sure its illegal to drink and drive but people still drive under the influence anyway
