Hacker News Reader

How does it not sound like 50 countries? There are 50 countries (states) each with their own laws and government. Hence varying degrees of gun strictness depending on the country (state). Laws that change the federal constitution must be approved by 75%.

View on HN

Sounds like a dysfunctional country where states seem like they have a lot of power but they really don’t because they don’t control their borders. And a few holdouts can ruin everything for the large majority.

If your states were like real countries, they could just ban guns, set up border controls, and turn away anyone bringing guns in. But they can’t, so they’re not countries.

I didn't say they are countries, I said they are like countries. Finding all the ways they are not like countries to prove they aren't countries just ignores all of the similarities.

States are like countries in the same way that I’m like a horse. We’re both mammals with 4 limbs, but that’s about it.

Plenty of countries have states with distinct laws and cultures. Canada, Brazil, England, Italy, etc. That doesn’t mean those states are countries.

Sounds like you’re letting US exceptionalism cloud your judgement.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com