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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!cwruecmp!decot
From: decot@cwruecmp.UUCP (Dave Decot)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Clarification on "Missing Handgun"
Message-ID: <668@cwruecmp.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 26-Sep-83 09:59:26 EDT
Article-I.D.: cwruecmp.668
Posted: Mon Sep 26 09:59:26 1983
Date-Received: Tue, 27-Sep-83 04:38:56 EDT
References: <153@ccieng5.UUCP>
Organization: CWRU Computer Engr. Cleveland, Ohio
Lines: 32


Indented comments are Karl's; mine are not indented.


		+--------------------------------------------------------------+
		| The laws restricting possession of handguns within the state |
		| of NY *DO NOT ACCOMPLISH WHAT THEY SET OUT TO ACCOMPLISH,*   |
		| and, because of their existence, innocent people were hurt.  |
		+--------------------------------------------------------------+

You have absolutely no evidence that the existence of these laws caused anyone
to be hurt.  Although with a handgun you may have been able to prevent the
intruder from causing further damage, you may also have ENABLED him to cause
further damage if he had managed to get it away from you.

While it is true that the laws restricting posession of handguns in NY do not
prevent every possible crime from occurring, this can hardly be defined as
"WHAT THEY SET OUT TO ACCOMPLISH."  Apparently, the purpose of these laws is
decrease the number of untrustworthy persons who possess handguns, where
an "untrustworthy person" is one whom the State of New York has no reason
to believe that the person is capable and responsible enough to use a handgun
correctly.  You don't take into account the potential misusers who have been
justifiably denied ownership of a handgun under these laws.

	So they shouldn't be on the books in the first place.

Simply that a law is not 100% successful does not imply that it is
useless.  People still murder, although it is illegal.  Should the laws
about murder be removed?

				Dave Decot
				..!decvax!cwruecmp!decot