Should only smart people get to use guns?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the idea of restricting gun ownership based on intelligence, specifically through the use of IQ tests. Participants explore the implications of such a proposal, questioning its effectiveness and the underlying assumptions about intelligence and responsibility in gun ownership.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant proposes that only individuals with high intelligence scores should be allowed to own guns, suggesting that smarter people might avoid dangerous situations where guns are needed.
  • Another participant questions whether restricting gun ownership to those with high IQs would effectively prevent violent acts, referencing a specific case.
  • A participant challenges the assumption that high IQ correlates with responsible gun ownership, citing examples of intelligent individuals who have committed violent acts.
  • There is a suggestion that banning gun ownership entirely could be a more equitable solution, questioning the societal implications of allowing only "smart" individuals to possess guns.
  • One participant raises the concern that implementing an IQ test could lead to a black market for guns, as those denied ownership may seek alternative means to obtain firearms.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the relationship between intelligence and gun ownership, with no consensus reached on the effectiveness or morality of restricting gun access based on IQ. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the implications of such a policy.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight the distinction between intelligence and mental stability, indicating that an IQ test may not adequately assess an individual's suitability for gun ownership. The discussion also touches on broader societal implications of gun ownership restrictions.

Containment
Thinking about a recent case that's in the news lately got me thinking about gun bans. I am personally a right to own gun person however I found myself pondering the idea that only smart people should be allowed to use guns. I was thinking if I was going to ban guns I would ban them in such a way that only people with very high intelligence scores could use them. So basically in order to get a gun you would have to take an IQ test and score in the top percentile. Well that's unlikely but then it got me to thinking do smart people pack heat? You got to think if a person is smart enough they should be able to avoid situations where they need guns most of the time so carrying a gun around would prove to be more of a pain in the you know what for the most part.

Is it really true that "smart" people don't arm them self's in public? Would requiring people to pass an IQ test to use guns cause a massive surge in the gun sales blackmarket? And would you accept it if you were in the IQ bracket that did not allow for gun ownership?
 
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Do you think this would stop people like Anders Breivik?
 
Why are people with high iqs more trust worthy with guns?
 
An IQ test has NOTHING to do with mental stability. The unibomber was reportedly quite a bright guy.
 
Containment said:
And would you accept it if you were in the IQ bracket that did not allow for gun ownership?

Some might argue that this IQ bracket is, in fact, the high one.

More generally, how about NOBODY is allowed to own guns? If the counter-argument is that this would disadvantage law-abiding folk because the criminals will ignore the ban, then the consequence of your suggestion is that only smart peoiple should be allowed the claimed-for defence of guns.

Not really the sort of society I'd want to live in.
 
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