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From: alan@allegra.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: gun control
Message-ID: <1831@allegra.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 17-Sep-83 18:06:38 EDT
Article-I.D.: allegra.1831
Posted: Sat Sep 17 18:06:38 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 18-Sep-83 11:16:51 EDT
Organization: Bell Labs, Murray Hill
Lines: 41


	Hmm, I don't have a textbook in front of me, but don't I
	recall one of the first few amendments to the constitution
	saying something of the order of 'the right of a citizen to
	bear arms shall not be infringed'?

	That seems to imply to me that ALL gun control laws are
	unconstitutional. It even seems to say that prisoners don't
	have to surrender their weapons to police. (I'm not sure I
	like that one, but that's what it says). In other words there
	are no ifs no ands and no buts.

	--Morgoth       rochester!ritcv!ccieng5!ccieng2!bwm


The problem isn't that you have misunderstood one particular amendment.
The problem is that you've misunderstood the intent of the entire bill
of rights.

There are always if's, and's, and but's.  No right is as absolute as
what you're talking about here.

For example, we have the right to life, liberty, and the persuit of
happiness, yet we have been imprisoning criminals throughout this
country's history.  Isn't that infringing on the criminal's right to
liberty and the persuit of happiness?  Well, sure it is -- but there
are other rights to be considered.

Look at another example.  The bill of rights guarantees us freedom of
speech, yet it is illeagal to shout fire in a crowded theater (unless
there's a fire, of course).  Isn't that infringing on our freedom of
speech?  Yes -- but, once again, there are other rights involved.

The point is, the bill of rights is not a list of commandments.  The
people who wrote it were not seeking simple-minded, dogmatic solutions.
It's perfectly constitutional to restrict or regulate the right to bear
arms in order to protect other more important rights.


	Alan Driscoll
	Bell Labs, Murray Hill