shouldn't liberals be for guns?

[nclib]

Something simple I've been pondering.  On the basic political spectrum, conservatives are for economic liberty, but want government involved in social matters.  Liberals want social liberty, but want the government involved in economic matter. 

The saying that liberals want more social liberty and less economic liberty on every issue (and the reverse for conservatives) is oversimplistic.

It is true in general, but there are many exceptions. Guns and tobacco are the exceptions in the social realm, and in the economic realm, conservatives tend to favor more government in the areas of military spending, spending on NASA, and gambling and prostitution.

[nclib]

Something simple I've been pondering.  On the basic political spectrum, conservatives are for economic liberty, but want government involved in social matters.  Liberals want social liberty, but want the government involved in economic matter. 

The saying that liberals want more social liberty and less economic liberty on every issue (and the reverse for conservatives) is oversimplistic.

It is true in general, but there are many exceptions. Guns and tobacco are the exceptions in the social realm, and in the economic realm, conservatives tend to favor more government in the areas of military spending, spending on NASA, and gambling and prostitution.

I agree with the sentiment of this statement, but:

1.military spending isn't exactly economic or social, I'd put it in a class of it's own.
2. Gambling and prostitution are opposed by conservatives for social reasons, in general, not economic, so it fits the stereotype. Liberals often oppose lotteries because they think it hurts the poor economically. There can be multiple reasons to oppose or favor something, not just social or economic.

I would agree with your analysis, and would also add that guns and tobacco are opposed by liberals for public health reasons--which is consistent with liberals' belief in increased economic involvement in public health.