Is It The Object or The Person?

[BeckyJ]

For me it's always the person that is the problem to the question below.
None of these items will harm anyone unless someone with ill intent misuses the object and directs it toward an innocent person.
I have been around people all of my life who are responsible with each of these things and they have never misused any of them to harm an innocent person.
The object, if left alone, will not pick it self up and throw itself or shoot itself or stab at someone or drive into anyone.
Those without ill intent know how to properly use these objects so innocent people don't get hurt. It's those with ill intent who are the problem!

Whether a person misuses a brick, a gun, a knife, a vehicle, etc and it harms/kills innocent people...which is the problem in your opinion, the object used or the person?

FYI...This post is about adults or youth old enough to know better. Not a small child, etc. Just adults and youth old enough to know.

 

[Michie]

For me it's always the person that is the problem to the question below.
None of these items will harm anyone unless someone with ill intent misuses the object and directs it toward an innocent person.
I have been around people all of my life who are responsible with each of these things and they have never misused any of them to harm an innocent person.
The object, if left alone, will not pick it self up and throw itself or shoot itself or stab at someone or drive into anyone.
Those without ill intent know how to properly use these objects so innocent people don't get hurt. It's those with ill intent who are the problem!

Whether a person misuses a brick, a gun, a knife, a vehicle, etc and it harms/kills innocent people...which is the problem in your opinion, the object used or the person?

The person’s intent but it is also the easy access to dangerous objects. Many people with no dangerous intent have been injured and killed by dangerous items that they should have never had access to in the first place. Small children and others come to mind. I don’t think it’s an either/or situation. It’s not black and white.

 

[BeckyJ]

The person’s intent but it is also the easy access to dangerous objects. Many people with no dangerous intent have been injured and killed by dangerous items that they should have never had access to in the first place. Small children and others come to mind. I don’t think it’s an either/or situation. It’s not black and white.

In general I disagree.
Of course a small child can pick up an item whether a knife, a gun and hurt someone accidentally. But the child's intent isn't one of evil, they just don't know.
That simply shows an irresponsible parent or guardian!!
This post is about adults or youth old enough to know better. I'll try to edi the post to reflect that if it wll let me.

 

[Arcangl86]

The problem with your analogy is that bricks, knives,cars etc all have intended uses that are nonviolent. When you sit somebody with a gun, you aren't misusing it. You are using it for it's intended purpose.

 

[BeckyJ]

The problem with your analogy is that bricks, knives,cars etc all have intended uses that are nonviolent. When you sit somebody with a gun, you aren't misusing it. You are using it for it's intended purpose.

There is nothing wrong with the analogy.
Vehicles, knives, etc have been used on people to harm/kill them.
Have you not seen crowds ran into with a vehicle like for example, what Darrell Brooks did at the Waukesha Christmas parade attack on November 21, 2021. This resulted in the deaths of six people and injuries to 62 others.
Have you not heard about July 26, 2025 where a mass stabbing occurred at a Walmart store in Garfield Township, Michigan, leaving 11 people injured by Bradford Gille.
There's no problem with my analogy.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

For me it's always the person that is the problem to the question below.
None of these items will harm anyone unless someone with ill intent misuses the object and directs it toward an innocent person.
I have been around people all of my life who are responsible with each of these things and they have never misused any of them to harm an innocent person.
The object, if left alone, will not pick it self up and throw itself or shoot itself or stab at someone or drive into anyone.
Those without ill intent know how to properly use these objects so innocent people don't get hurt. It's those with ill intent who are the problem!

Whether a person misuses a brick, a gun, a knife, a vehicle, etc and it harms/kills innocent people...which is the problem in your opinion, the object used or the person?

FYI...This post is about adults or youth old enough to know better. Not a small child, etc. Just adults and youth old enough to know.

I agree , it is the person who pulls the trigger however, there is always a path that can be traced back to actions or no actions taken by others.

Using current horrific events....this transpired:

1.The government: Allows the use of an AR-25, 116 rounds were shot.
2.The point of sale: Minimal and weak background check including no mental illness check.
3. Family and friends: Not reporting the plethora of red flags all over his social media and personal encounters.

I am certain this post is about the devastating events in Minneapolis and pro gun rights so I have laid out the events of this particular situation. We can certainly say that this deprived path leading to a mass shooting, is far too familiar.

 

[JustaPewFiller]

I think it more the person, but it is also a societal issue.

When I attended high school waaaaaaaayyyy back in the day and waaaaaaay back in the sticks in a rural area - the opening day of deer hunting season was an excused absence. During hunting season most senior boys (and a few of the girls) that were fortunate enough to have access to a vehicle also had a shotgun or rifle in their vehicles in case they wanted to stop and hunt on way home from school. I know this may venture into off track territory, but I never knew of an instance where the animal didn't end up as part of food for the family.

Guns are more advanced now. But they really haven't changed that much. Guns were still deadly back then. Maybe society, values and people are what has changed more?

 

[BeckyJ]

I think it more the person, but it is also a societal issue.

When I attended high school waaaaaaaayyyy back in the day and waaaaaaay back in the sticks in a rural area - the opening day of deer hunting season was an excused absence. During hunting season most senior boys (and a few of the girls) that were fortunate enough to have access to a vehicle also had a shotgun or rifle in their vehicles in case they wanted to stop and hunt on way home from school. I know this may venture into off track territory, but I never knew of an instance where the animal didn't end up as part of food for the family.

Guns are more advanced now. But they really haven't changed that much. Guns were still deadly back then. Maybe society, values and people are what has changed more?

I've been around those who own guns my whole life.
Not one of them have ever misused a gun and harmed an innocent person.
It's not the object that is the danger if is used properly for target shooting for example, which is fun and I've done even though I don't own a gun myself.
It's the person with an evil heart bent on causing harm or death to innocent people.
It 's that simple.
People can use bricks, knives, vehicles, guns to hurt innocent people.
If those things are used by those with good intent, no innocent person is hurt.
No one is hit by a brick, stabbed with a knife, ran over by a vehicle or shot.
Those things don't cause harm to innocent people unless a person with ill intent uses one of them for such.