Gun Violence?

[seer]

Since when has the term gun control turned into the term gun violence? It seems strange - guns aren't violent, they are guns - they just sit there doing nothing with a stupid look on their face. As a matter of fact, none of my guns over the years ever even mouthed back to me, never mind trying to hurt me. I mean would we call auto accidents - car violence?

[Littlejoe]

There is such a term as Vehicular Manslaughter...

[seer]

There is such a term as Vehicular Manslaughter...

Yes but that is very specific. Gun violence is too general, if you accidentally shoot yourself is that gun violence (stupidity yes)? According to the administration it is gun violence. Again, I think this is all about changing the language - "gun control" does not sound good - like the government is attempting to control us. But again, inanimate objects are not "violent" - people are.

[Leonhard]

Since when has the term gun control turned into the term gun violence? It seems strange - guns aren't violent, they are guns - they just sit there doing nothing with a stupid look on their face.

Gun violence, are violent acts committed with a gun. Its a perfectly servicable term, its also what people understand the term to mean.

[seer]

Gun violence, are violent acts committed with a gun. Its a perfectly servicable term, its also what people understand the term to mean.

Then car violence would be a perfectly serviceable term for auto accidents. Not...

[Spartacus]

Then car violence would be a perfectly serviceable term for auto accidents. Not...

Unless it's vehicular manslaughter, in which case we take our term from technical legal jargon, then "accident" is a good word for it.

And would you rather the government focus more on controlling guns, or on limiting the violence against innocents inflicted with guns?

[seer]

And would you rather the government focus more on controlling guns, or on limiting the violence against innocents inflicted with guns?

How about we focus on violence period? After all we don't talk about knife violence or baseball bat violence.

[Littlejoe]

I've never personally heard of an accident or suicide being referred to as "gun violence". Unless you're just saying all gun deaths are lumped under one umbrella...but are they?

[seer]

I've never personally heard of an accident or suicide being referred to as "gun violence". Unless you're just saying all gun deaths are lumped under one umbrella...but are they?

Obama included suicide and accidental shootings in one of his speeches about gun violence if memory serves. But again, it is about language - we don't call it knife violence or baseball bat violence.

[Littlejoe]

Obama included suicide and accidental shootings in one of his speeches about gun violence if memory serves. But again, it is about language - we don't call it knife violence or baseball bat violence.

True we call them Knife Attacks or Baseball attacks do we not? Knife Violence doesn't roll of the tongue well...maybe it's as simple as that?

[seer]

True we call them Knife Attacks or Baseball attacks do we not? Knife Violence doesn't roll of the tongue well...maybe it's as simple as that?

No it is as simple as this - change the language to win the debate. When did we ever call it "gun violence" until recently? Gun control (control) has a bad connotation.

[Spartacus]

No it is as simple as this - change the language to win the debate. When did we ever call it "gun violence" until recently? Gun control (control) has a bad connotation.

If your arguments are strong enough, they will survive a small change in language.

As far as I can tell, this is a change that you can turn to your own advantage. If, as you say, "gun control" has a bad connotation, then allow yourself to differentiate between policies aimed at controlling guns and policies that are aimed at reducing criminal violence inflicted with guns. Besides, if every proposed policy is a "gun control" policy, then the term loses its meaning.

[Psychic Missile]

If your arguments are strong enough, they will survive a small change in language.

"Pro-life" and "pro-choice" didn't seem to do much.

[Spartacus]

"Pro-life" and "pro-choice" didn't seem to do much.

And "abortion" started out a a euphemism, but now it's taken on all the negative connotations of the term it was trying to replace.

[Jedidiah]

What is abortion a euphemism for? Murder, infanticide, what?