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From: preece@uicsl.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.general
Subject: Re: The wheels of Justice turn slow, but - (nf)
Message-ID: <2649@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 26-Aug-83 22:40:28 EDT
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.2649
Posted: Fri Aug 26 22:40:28 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 29-Aug-83 03:25:46 EDT
Lines: 24

#R:hou5a:-38700:uicsl:5400012:000:1072
uicsl!preece    Aug 26 15:02:00 1983

What evidence do any of us have that the little old lady wasn't
on her way to Central Park to pick up a few dollars for her trip home?

Nobody should be carrying a handgun without providing very clear
proof, to a competent authority, that he/she knows how to use it and
has an absolute need to carry it. That means police officers,
security guards, and a very few others. I'm not sure that I'd accept
defense of property as a valid reason, either.

Actually, I don't think anybody but the above should be allowed to
own handguns at all, but that's a different story. I'd make the little
old lady pay a stiff fine, and on a second offence I'd put her away
as a danger to society. Her opinion as to when use of deadly force
is required to protect herself is just not enough. If the gun was in
fact unloaded, I'd only take it away from her, which is what the police
apparently did. In civilized countries not even the police carry guns;
I doubt we'll ever be civilized again, but never is a long time away, so
I guess I can hope...

scott preece
pur-ee!uiucdcs!uicsl!preece