Spooner looks quite bemused.
"That's the stupidest goddamn thing I've ever heard. Stupider than most things I've had the great pleasure of sayin', too. Not because I don't think it's possible, 'cause it probably is, I dunno. But why'd you wanna get rid o' magic of all things? That's like sayin' we need to outlaw fire because, when ya examine the facts and whatnot, one hundred percent of the cases of arson happenin' involve it, and people die in those a lot. I's true, y'know, but we ain't gonna outlaw fire. Fire's warm an' stuff, and ya can cook stuff with it, and i's part of the natural world, it is, even if ya can mix quicklime into pitch and make fire so nasty, it'll kill yer whole family twice. An' magic's the same. Anythin' ya break with it, ya can also fix. Ya can use it ta make food, heal wounds, save people, protect villages and all that other stuff that's all fine an' proper. I myself know two runes o' magic, and neither one ya can use ta kill people unless yer some kinda psycho that spends all day thinkin' 'bout that."
"When ya look at it, yer problem is assholes, not magic. People who get their houses burned down's problem is arsonists, not fire. Skewered guy's problem is the guy that skewered 'im, not steel. And if ya pretend that ain't the way it is, well, guess who's got a massive case of shit for brains? Go kill people in Varden, or execute their families, or piss on their dogs, or whatever's gonna make yer severed ears, dead little sisters, tiny heads or whatever other shit ya use as an excuse feel better. Take it out on shit that's actually relevant and doing no good ta anyone, not the concept o' magic. Sheesh. What's the matter with ya fools?"