Quote Originally Posted by faesce View Post
Does it really come as a surprise to you that publicly perceived issues are being patched up by publicly appointed politicians? Whether or not you feel (or know) a switchblade is any more dangerous than a boxcutter, or an automatic firearm is any more lethal than a pellet gun, that knowledge has zero impact on the vast majority of the public's impression. That impression is what therefore dictates some or most of the laws, and allows a pseudo sense of security to be achieved. Everybody knows this, and if somebody didn't, they're probably an idiot.
Of course it doesn't come as a surprise to me; what part of my post could possibly make you think I was surprised by this, or didn't already know it, or expected my knowledge to be reflected in the views of the general public? I was expounding on Anonymous D's point about switchblade laws, which is just about the exact opposite of expressing surprise at it. No, I am not surprised that an ignorant general public elects ignorant politicians who pass stupid laws, and of course I realize that the views of knowledgeable people don't have any impact on the views of the general public. Why would you think that because I express annoyance at this fact, I must be surprised by it or ignorant of it?

Quote Originally Posted by faesce
The whole "the public doesn't know shit and politicians are dumb" thing is pretty obnoxious to read simply due to the weird patronizing tones that usually go with it~
Well, when it comes to firearms (and knives), it's definitely true; the general public, and the politicians representing them, don't know shit. I don't really care whether you find it obnoxious to read. If you don't want to read posts in which gun/knife owners express exasperation at the cluelessness of the politicians passing gun/knife laws, then you shouldn't be hanging out in the gun/knife forum and going into gun/knife threads. And I wouldn't call my attitude here "patronizing"; patronization implies that I'm being indulgent. "Contemptuous" is probably a better word. I have contempt for politicians who make a point of pushing laws on issues of which they're ignorant.