Kate Steinle was killed in 2015 in San Francisco by an illegal immigrant. Mollie Tibbetts, an Iowa student, went missing last month and found dead this week, allegedly at the hand of an illegal immigrant. Many conservatives are using these deaths as talking points for more robust immigration enforcement and/or stricter immigration laws.
The talking point goes something like this: “If we had more robust immigration enforcement/laws, Kate Steinle and Mollie Tibbetts would be alive today.”
Now, substitute “gun control laws” for “immigration enforcement/laws.” Uh oh, you just made the gun grabbers’ argument by using their oft repeated fallacious argument of composition.
You can ban all guns and ban all illegal immigrants but bad guys are going to get guns and kill people. As Marco Rubio said, “you can pass all the laws you want but criminals will ignore the law.”
I’m not arguing FOR open borders. I agree that our current immigration laws need to be enforced, our borders need to be strengthened, and future immigration should be based on merit rather than presence. I am CERTAINLY not arguing for gun control.
I am asking conservatives to avoid the same fallacious arguments liberals make.