Slippery Slope Archives

An assertion unjustified by offered evidence that one action inevitably will lead to specific undesirable actions or effects. Also called “camel’s nose” on the assumption that if one permits a camel’s nose under the tent, the rest of the camel will follow. A slippery slope assertion can be transformed into a legitimate argument by evidence that the forecast action or effect does in fact follow from or is the necessary result of the first action. The claim that background checks on guns will lead to a disarmed citizenry is a slippery slope assertion.

Slippery Slope: National Association for Gun Rights on Gun Registry

In ads attacking House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R., Va.), Rep. Scott Rigell (R., Va.) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.), the National Association for Gun Rights suggests the three members’ support for background checks mean they support a federal gun registry.

Slippery Slope: American Crossroads and ‘Rationed Care’

A pro-Republican super PAC employs a slippery slope argument in a 2012 ad that claims the Affordable Care Act creates an unelected board that would ration health care.

Slippery Slope: ‘Killing Americans’ with drones

Lt. Col. Bill Cowan’s assertion that “killing Americans overseas with drones” will lead to “killing Americans in this country with drones,” is an illegitimate slippery slope argument.

Slippery Slope: ‘Full-scale confiscation’ of guns

When the campaign manager for Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell implies that a supposed federal gun registry will lead to government seizure of weapons, he is employing a slippery slope argument.