Americans think every surface is a slippery slope because our society is deeply polarized and the slide down the slope is always a real threat. For example, out of the largest five EU countries, four (Germany, Italy, Spain, and France) have abortion laws generally limited to first trimester, with mandatory waiting periods and counseling being typical. (Germany still has them, France recently got rid of the waiting period.) On paper, those restrictions would be among the strictest in the country if they were in the US. (Alabama and Georgia currently have a 22-week limit, until the heartbeat laws take effect next year.)
But as you can see with the recent push in the US, the goal for a large contingent of people in the US really is the outright elimination of elective abortion. Liberals, correctly, recognize the slippery slope and categorically oppose restrictions, even ones that are common in Europe.
The same dynamic holds for gun control. In liberal circles it’s common to deem the second amendment “obsolete” and declare there is no reason for private gun ownership. Prior to Heller DC law banned ownership of handguns (except ones grandfathered in), and requires rifles and shotguns to be kept disassembled. Licensure procedures have been used as effective bans, with municipalities almost automatically denying applications for a license. Second Amendment advocates, quite reasonably, don’t trust “reasonable restrictions” because they know that the end goal is prohibition.
But as you can see with the recent push in the US, the goal for a large contingent of people in the US really is the outright elimination of elective abortion. Liberals, correctly, recognize the slippery slope and categorically oppose restrictions, even ones that are common in Europe.
The same dynamic holds for gun control. In liberal circles it’s common to deem the second amendment “obsolete” and declare there is no reason for private gun ownership. Prior to Heller DC law banned ownership of handguns (except ones grandfathered in), and requires rifles and shotguns to be kept disassembled. Licensure procedures have been used as effective bans, with municipalities almost automatically denying applications for a license. Second Amendment advocates, quite reasonably, don’t trust “reasonable restrictions” because they know that the end goal is prohibition.