The Hypocrisy of Liberals and Conservatives

The huge amount of people killed by
guns is unique to America in the
developed world.
Source: BBC

According to the CDC in 2013 there were 11,208 firearm homicides, or 70% of the total homicides committed in the United States.  This number is not even close to the total number of people who were killed by firearms in 2013, which stood at a colossal 33,363. Despite this huge problem, the debate over gun laws is a hugely divisive debate.

Many Americans, mostly on the conservative side of the spectrum, will attack any law that restricts the proliferation of firearms as unconstitutional due to the second amendment. Whilst federal gun laws are arguably the weakest they have ever been, for many gun lovers, they are still too strong. Furthermore, despite the failure of the Senate to pass new gun regulations in 2013, many gun rights activists are terrified that the government is going to confiscate their guns.  As a result of the hysteria, many red states have gone ahead and tried to nullify federal gun laws.

In 2014 the Washington Post pointed out that “In Idaho, the Legislature unanimously passed a law to keep any future federal gun measures from being enforced in the state. In Kansas, a law passed last year says federal regulation doesn’t apply to guns manufactured in the state. Wyoming, South Dakota and Arizona have had laws protecting “firearms freedom” from the U.S. government since 2010.”

The nullification of federal laws outraged many liberals who decried the efforts as unconstitutional. However I find that many of these same liberals are perfectly happy to advocate nullification in an area that suits them: Marijuana laws.

Source: Pew Research

The federal government classifies marijuana as a schedule 1 drug, which means that it has a high potential for abuse, it has no medical value, there is no way to use the drug safely consume it under medical supervision, and no prescriptions may be written for it. Now whilst you may take issue with this classification (I believe marijuana should be legalised), that is not what this article is about. Whether you like it or not, this is federal law in the United States as it stands today.

As a result of the federal government’s ridiculous laws on marijuana, many states have effectively tried to nullify federal law on the issue. As it stands now 19 states have legalised medical marijuana, 14 have decriminalised possession and four (plus Washington D.C.) have legalised marijuana for recreational purposes. This is a direct violation of federal laws. Many conservatives have railed against the wave of marijuana legalisation in states across America, frustrated that they have effectively nullified federal law.

So my question to liberals is this: why is it acceptable to nullify federal laws on marijuana but totally unacceptable to nullify federal gun laws? And for conservatives, why is it acceptable to nullify federal laws on guns but totally unacceptably to nullify federal marijuana laws?

These questions have totally stumped me, I can't think of a way for liberals or conservatives to justify their respective beliefs. If anyone would be kind enough to offer me an explanation, other than the obvious that people support whatever results in them getting their way, that would be great!