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The law outside its application is meaningless. That’s why there’s so many “Did you know it’s illegal to wash your aardvark on Wednesday” laws still on the book

The law outside its application is meaningless. That’s why there’s so many “Did you know it’s illegal to wash your aardvark on Wednesday” laws still on the books. Regarding drugs and guns — how is that enforced? Can’t see how a gun dealer would know. Also, employers can drug test for nicotine, which is legal, and deny employmet.

kube-system 4y ago
I picked those examples specifically because they are enforced. > Regarding drugs and guns — how is that enforced? Can’t see how a gun dealer would know. All gun dealers must record form ATF form 4473 for each gun purchase, which specifically asks questions about drug use. If you say yes, you will be denied the gun. If you lie, you may face up to 5 years in prison plus $10K fines. If your state has a medical marijuana registry, this may be cross referenced. If you are later found to be in possession of a gun and marijuana (or evidence of use like a marijuana card), you are a "prohibited person" in illegal possession of a firearm. These still happen, they just get reported as "weapons charges" because that's what they are. > Also, employers can drug test for nicotine, which is legal, and deny employmet. Federal jobs (or federally regulated jobs, i.e. being a pilot[0]) don't ban it. 0: https://www.kgns.tv/content/news/Colorado-pilot-fired-after-marijuana-mishap-496270131.html https://www.kgns.tv/content/news/Colorado-pilot-fired-after-...
- 33955985 4y ago
  Circling back to your original point, then: the headline’s framing is misleading because it leaves out potential gun buyers and people applying to federal jobs? Seems like an awfully small minority to be concerned with in… a headline for a national newspaper. How would you write the headline?
  - kube-system 4y ago
    Gun owners alone are 1/3 of US adults. The US government is the largest employer in the US (and in the world). I said how I'd write the headline above: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34118464 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34118464
10000truths 4y ago
An "unenforced" law is more dangerous than a repealed law because it provides the opportunity for selective enforcement. A perfect avenue for discrimination of protected classes, parallel construction to bypass due process, and other such abuses of people's civil liberties with impunity - all stemming from pushing people into the precarious status of "you technically violated the law but we'll ignore it as long as..."

kube-system 4y ago

I picked those examples specifically because they are enforced. > Regarding drugs and guns — how is that enforced? Can’t see how a gun dealer would know. All gun dealers must record form ATF form 4473 for each gun purchase, which specifically asks questions about drug use. If you say yes, you will be denied the gun. If you lie, you may face up to 5 years in prison plus $10K fines. If your state has a medical marijuana registry, this may be cross referenced. If you are later found to be in possession of a gun and marijuana (or evidence of use like a marijuana card), you are a "prohibited person" in illegal possession of a firearm. These still happen, they just get reported as "weapons charges" because that's what they are. > Also, employers can drug test for nicotine, which is legal, and deny employmet. Federal jobs (or federally regulated jobs, i.e. being a pilot[0]) don't ban it. 0: https://www.kgns.tv/content/news/Colorado-pilot-fired-after-marijuana-mishap-496270131.html https://www.kgns.tv/content/news/Colorado-pilot-fired-after-...

33955985 4y ago
Circling back to your original point, then: the headline’s framing is misleading because it leaves out potential gun buyers and people applying to federal jobs? Seems like an awfully small minority to be concerned with in… a headline for a national newspaper. How would you write the headline?
- kube-system 4y ago
  Gun owners alone are 1/3 of US adults. The US government is the largest employer in the US (and in the world). I said how I'd write the headline above: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34118464 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34118464

10000truths 4y ago

An "unenforced" law is more dangerous than a repealed law because it provides the opportunity for selective enforcement. A perfect avenue for discrimination of protected classes, parallel construction to bypass due process, and other such abuses of people's civil liberties with impunity - all stemming from pushing people into the precarious status of "you technically violated the law but we'll ignore it as long as..."