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From: mat@hou5d.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Handguns
Message-ID: <658@hou5d.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 13-Sep-83 02:34:45 EDT
Article-I.D.: hou5d.658
Posted: Tue Sep 13 02:34:45 1983
Date-Received: Wed, 14-Sep-83 23:57:41 EDT
Organization: American Bell ED&D, Holmdel, NJ
Lines: 41

One other word on the handgun isssue.  Guns are great at killing.  That is
why criminals carry them.

Now consider a situation in which violent crime runs rampant and usually
unreported (like some areas of NYC)  The police have not got the resources
nor the support of the judiciary, and are inneffective.  Also like some areas
of NYC.  Industrial areas, residential areas red-light districts, you name
them.


People have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of lawful livelihood.
THESE RIGHTS AREN'T WORTH DIDDLYSQUAT IF THEY CANNOT BE PROTECTED!
My belief is that taking guns away from otherwise law-abiding citizens
when the state cannot protect the citizens is tantamount to taking away
the other rights.

The real cure is to incarcerate PERMANANTLY or execute (preferably) those
who use deadly force or the threat of deadly force in ANY way.  This includes
the gang that intimidates a 74-year-old woman.  It means that the mugger who
waves a knife at his victim is convicted and then executed with all speed
consistant with insuring beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused is indeed
the person who committed the act.

As to domestic violence, etc:  how does living in fear of violent crime
daily help people to live together?  And how many people are killed by
drunk drivers and cigarettes?  At least guns are MEANT to kill, and are not
being perverted from their purpose.

I could support some requirements on handguns -- for example that the person
who keeps one knows how tro handle it and store it in relative safetly, if it
were not for the fact that you need to keep a gun loaded and at hand if you
intend to fire it or threaten to fire it at a criminal.

					No, I don't belong to the NRA, nor
					do I support the gun lobby.  I want
					to see people stop dying, but not
					by making them MORE vulnerable to
					criminals.

					Mark Terribile
					Duke of deNet