tabulasar asked: Thanks for your answer to my question. I apologize for the spelling & grammatical errors. I have one more question. You claim freedom is your telos. You want more freedom, less regulation--at least as far as gun control is concerned. I think your argument has some merit. I just wonder what the libertarian might say to the question: what is the source of your profound trust in human beings, given their fallibility, and proven propensity for selfishness, avarice and evil? As far as guns go.
This is a common argument leveled against libertarians. They claim we have too much faith in humanity and that our idealism is what leads us to believe a free society would be more peaceful. But it’s actually the acknowledgement of the fallibility of man that leads us to the notion that no one should have authority over others. The elected officials and unelected bureaucrats are just as fallible as the citizens they govern. They experience the same selfishness and greed and are motivated by self-interest as much as the rest of us. To give them power over others is to believe that they will use this power for only good.
When guns are banned the government will still have them and to me that’s a much less desirable society to live in. Government cannot risk-proof the world and every time it tries the liberties of the people are trampled.
