Politicians are some of the foremost users of logical fallacies. Political debates are created based off these logical fallacies. This is especially prevalent in gun debates.
Those that want stricter gun control laws often use the argument that if we don't ban guns then more children will be horrifically murdered. This is a perfect example of a slippery slope. There is no direct correlation between gun laws and children's deaths, yet a politician would use this fallacy to makes their audience believe that if this law is not enforced then there will be extremely negative consequences.
This can also be considered an either/or logical fallacy. It makes people believe that they either can ban guns and in essence, save the children, or allow people to own guns and are giving them the means to kill their children.
Another politician might argue by appealing to tradition. Since their father was allowed to carry a gun, and their grandfather before that, then shouldn't they be allowed to carry guns? If this was the case then any new laws would never apply. Just because your great great grandfather owned slaves doesn't mean you should. Yet this appeal to tradition proves very powerful for many people because it creates a self-righteous patriotic attitude in those that believe in it.
I agree with your post completely. I do think gun control is an incredibly important issue, but see many instances of exaggeration and logical fallacies pertaining to it. I have seen many commercials of the "slippery slope" a lack of gun control has caused. Nice post!
ReplyDeleteIn this case, I think an appeal to tradition might be an effective rhetorical technique. It is true that much of our laws are based on the tradition of liberty and democracy, and reminding one's audience of that fact does not always constitute a logical fallacy. That being said, I think much of the political debate of gun regulation can be reduced to a fallacy exchange.
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