Is there a possible scenario where practical considerations would supercede the 2nd amendment?

Question

Suppose there was a broad-field phaser weapon that could 1000 people with the click of a single button. Suppose this weapon can fit in the palm of a hand. Is there a practical limit to what a society can tolerate when it comes to mass shooters? At some point, would carnage caused by the right to bear arms prove an existential threat to humanity? Maybe not extinction, but suppose a single person could fire a laser at a building, and make it collapse. If riots in 2020 were bad, the entire city would be in ruins within hours if rioters were armed with laser weapons. People would flee to the woods and bomb shelters. Maybe people could live in underground cities. Australia already has underground cities. Something like Gila cliff dwellings in New Mexico might me an option. Hypothetically, the 2nd amendment could be upheld in such a scenario, but would it?

Update:

This may be the solution to the Fermi paradox.

Update 2:

u_bin_called, what if it's really easy to make? What's to stop people from 3D printing laser weapons?

u_bin_called · Answer

ok..... let's rewind a bit..... all the way back to middle school civics...

the Bill of Rights was established to specify the HUMAN rights upon which the government could not infringe...

the 2nd Amendment is based on the notion that self defense is a human right....

ever notice that things like hand grenades and machine guns are NOT protected by the 2nd Amendment.... ever wonder why?

well...one of the oldest traditions in our system is the notion that your rights end when they infringe upon the rights of others... quite simply, your right to defend yourself does not grant you the right to endanger those around you or the threat you perceive...

if you look at the cases where bans on certain weapons have been upheld, the basis is the difference between "targeted" and "indiscriminate" damage...

thus, the laws regarding your fantasy scenario can easily be foretold by the laws that currently exist over other indiscriminate-damage weapons...

Uncle Pennybags · Answer

And what if this weapon could be made from components that are currently readily available and the plans were released widely on the internet?

Would it really matter what the laws were?  Anybody could simply build and carry one and nobody would know.

However, I do have to say I am very excited by the advances in 3D printing to the point where anyone can print themselves up some freedom, as 3D designed guns continue to advance.

? · Answer

Sure there is and it is about time we did something about free for all arms.

? · Answer

No, there is no practical gun control

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Is there a possible scenario where practical considerations would supercede the 2nd amendment?

4 Answers