You read about another jetliner crash, dozens of people were killed, and so you resolve to avoid the cheap carriers, or to fly as little as possible. Statistics say flying is safer, and it is – until it isn’t. The problem is one of control. Someone else maintains the jets, someone else flies the jets, someone else stacks them in the airspace. Then someone else crashes them. “At least,” you think, “I can drive defensively,” though you know that your spouse would debate that presumption.
You read about another spree killing, dozens of people were shot, and you resolve to eliminate guns from your city. Statistics say not owning a gun is safer, and it is – until it isn’t. The problem is one of control. Someone else sells the guns, someone else checks the permits, someone else fails to lock their guns at home. Then criminals get guns. “At least,” you think, “I can secure my house with an alarm and avoid the bad neighborhoods,” though you know that any neighborhood can be bad sometimes.
You read about another spree killing, dozens of people were shot, and you resolve to protect yourself with a gun. Statistics say owning a gun is safer, and it is – until it isn’t. The problem is one of control. You might be drinking or angry, you might shoot negligently, someone else might surprise you. Then you might kill the wrong person. “At least,” you think, “I can defend my house and family, and do my best to use this gun responsibly,” though you know you’ve done a few irresponsible things in your time.
