The argument went something like this. "Sure, it would be better if people didn't shoot heroin, but they will, so we need to make it safe." So they handed out needles to those who wanted them. "Yes, it's probably better if they don't have sex before they are adults, but they will, so we need to make it safe." So they handed out condoms and birth control pills to high school kids. We're still doing it. "We would hope that no one would abort their baby, but some will, so we need to make it safe." So they try to remove all limits and make the citizens pay for the woman's intent to murder her baby ... safely.
It makes no sense. None at all. Years ago when the high-school-kids-need-condoms craze was at its height, my daughter (in high school at the time) bought the story (because she saw it on one of those teen shows on TV). "That makes sense. You can put a fence around a pool, but kids are going to climb over anyway, so you need to make it safe." So I offered to discuss it with her. She agreed that giving needles to junkies was the right thing to do. She agreed that giving condoms to high school kids was the right thing to do. "So," I went on, "how about those darn drive-by shootings gangs are doing? Now, we don't want them to do it, but they will, so we should do what we can to make it safe, right? Send them to a school to teach them to drive and shoot accurately? Give them smarter weapons that only shoot at their intended targets? What would you suggest?"
We've bought this lie, hook, line and sinker. We've dragged it to the bottom and are pulling hard at it. "They will do it" becomes the only valid concern. Not "Is it right?" or "Is it healthy?" or "Is it good?" We make it safer to do things that aren't safe and easier to do things that shouldn't be done. And we are outraged if anyone protests. And we pat ourselves on the back for being wise and progressive. While people die. Or worse. Makes no sense. Just because people will do something doesn't make it right. Try to tell that to today's culture.
7 comments:
It seems as though encouraging people to injections heroin by giving them needles is a good thing.
I guess. And I'm waiting for the, "Yes! We MUST teach gangbangers how to do safe drive-by shootings!" But, I suppose, thinking it through to its logical conclusion isn't wise.
I realize that for the heroin addicts that put forth the effort to use clean needles, there are benefits in terms of lowering the chances of contracting certain diseases, which is a good thing. But, it ignores the fact that you’re still enabling the addiction of someone.
It’s like preventing the ancillary negative effects is more valuable than treating the primary problem.
Maybe if we give gang bangers free laser sights as well as free installation and regulation of the laser sights, we’ll cut down on collateral damage and just help them kill the other bangers. Clearly this demographic is one that places a high value on human life and will gladly accept any help to keep innocent bystanders safe from their poor gun handling and lack of training.
I don't know why, "Making it safe is not the answer" is understood to mean, "Don't do anything at all." "Making it safe is not the answer" suggests "There is a better answer," but I guess some don't understand that. So they are anxious to maintain a bad practice by making it safer and oppose those who disagree. I don't get it at all.
It’s ignoring or downplaying the danger inherent in the underlying activity.
It’s like saying we should just give the opioid addicts unlimited prescriptions so they don’t have to score on the street or move to heroin.
Or we should make killing babies safe so that ... oh, wait, they do say that.
What’s crazy is actually trying to do things that are 100% effective at keeping people safe.
Because everyone knows that not having sex is the most likely cause of dangerous consequences.
Post a Comment