Are Gun Merchants Participating in Murder?

gun ownerCourtesy of Being Liberal.

This snarky meme is pretty childish (pun intended), but since it got over 50,000 likes apparently some find it witty.  Whether you’re for or against gay marriage, the answer to the question is, of course, no.  It’s a complete non-sequitur (the logic doesn’t follow).  If a baker bakes a cake for a gay wedding, assuming they know it’s for a gay wedding, they are knowingly participating in the event, even though it’s a relatively minor role.  Presumably, they’ve met the couple, and designed a cake to their liking, which probably includes putting their names, or even little figurines on the cake expressing the nature of the event.

Selling a gun to a murderer is not participating in a murder, assuming the murderer didn’t tell the seller that he was going to use the gun to go kill someone.  Typically, murderers tend not to divulge this!  If a merchant sold a gun to a person knowing they would use it to commit murder, that would make them an accomplice.  If they consulted with the murderer on which model of gun would be best used to break in and kill the guy’s wife in cold blood, then that would be participating in the murder, but this doesn’t happen very often!  Similarly, a car salesman isn’t participating in vehicular manslaughter if a guy buys a car from him and hits a pedestrian while drunk.  Nor is Black and Decker participating in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, or United Airlines participating in 9/11.  In each of these cases, the product the business is selling is being used outside of its intended purpose.  In the case of a baker, the cake is being baked precisely to participate and add to the enjoyment of the wedding.  This is why it would be best, for both sides, if the baker was enthusiastic, and a voluntary participant in the wedding.

1 Comment on "Are Gun Merchants Participating in Murder?"

  1. Patrick Piklapp | October 2, 2015 at 12:31 am |

    IMHO, I think that any business has the right to say no to anyone and not be sued. If I refused to serve a piece of pie in a restaurant to a drunk person, I should not be sued for being prejudiced against people who drink too much. In the case of the bakery, their right to refuse service to anyone should have been upheld and the couple should and did take their business elsewhere. I do not support the bakery’s reason, but I do support their rights.

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