@CivicDutyPeg @Jaden2
Interesting historical note that ties in to Jaden's question about historical racism.
Back as recently as the 1970s, gun control was widely approved on the political left and right. The left approved because guns kill. The right approved because they associated crime with Black people, and regarded civilian guns as tools for crime (as well as hunting and target sports).
There was legislation that banned the least expensive handguns, nicknamed "Saturday night specials". I didn't understand it at the time, but it was meant to deny poor Black people guns.
Facing declining sales after the Vietnam War ended, the gun industry pushed a change of philosophy, however: people should respond to fear of crime by buying guns, not by keeping criminals from buying guns.
The right bought into their pitch, and their crowning success was the _Heller_ abomination.
(And yes, Russia helped the NRA.)
@Steve98052 @CivicDutyPeg@mastodon.coffee @Jaden2@mstdn.social
Not sure if it is related, but were drugs such as Cannabis, Cocaine, heroin, LSD and other others all legal in the 1960 but became criminalised in the late 69s early 70's so about the time this was happening with guns.
Are drugs behind a LOT of crime, homelessness, mental heath issues, guns just add to those issues.
