Chemistry is DANGEROUS!
Jon Carroll printed part of an e-mail from one of his readers in his column today, and I thought it was a good way to put things. As you may know, many of the more "dangerous" (useful) chemicals are becoming difficult for people interested in science to acquire, because the government is afraid that they might be used in terrorist activities or meth labs or something.
"It may be illegal to run a high school chemistry lab, but it's your God-given and Constitutionally Guaranteed right to buy handguns and ammunition, which are designed to kill people. In fact, in many states you can purchase packages of gunpowder, in case you want to pack your own shotgun shells, without even the minor protections that you have to deal with on guns.
"Instead of science class, we'll just issue each student a Glock and send them outside to play. It's gotta be safer, 'cause they'll be ready to defend themselves if the terrorists turn up."
Some of the strongest arguments against this trend claim that this will stifle science. They ask us to remember just how many famous scientists were drawn to science in the beginning because of the interesting bangs and smells you can create with a simple chemistry set. Read Uncle Tungsten: Memories of a Chemical Boyhood, and you'll see what I mean.