Post

I think there's a lot to be said about how "if you ban it people will just lie" is stupid gun control debate logic

It just fundamentally misunderstands the nature of rules imo. Rules are important even when enforcement is difficult!

In reality, most of the power of a rule is in expectation-setting: it should point to a social norm and clearly communicate what the social expectations are. People don't *like* having to lie, and are likely just to go somewhere else first, because that's easier.

A rule-breaker knows they are violating a rule, and to me this is the primary purpose of the rule. Punishments, if they exist, should be primarily about stopping damage. This sometimes includes bans!