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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!floyd!clyde!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!uicsl!preece
From: preece@uicsl.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.followup
Subject: Re: Handguns - (nf)
Message-ID: <3054@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 30-Sep-83 05:36:32 EDT
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.3054
Posted: Fri Sep 30 05:36:32 1983
Date-Received: Mon, 3-Oct-83 06:17:13 EDT
Lines: 18

#R:phs:-200200:uicsl:5400030:000:764
uicsl!preece    Sep 30 00:16:00 1983

	When circumstances become such that a criminal stands a better
	than even chance of being killed IN THE ACT of committing a crime,
	and when this becomes an apparent fact to potential criminals,
	society will realize whatever deterrent effect can be derived
	from potential loss of life.  I don't think capital punishment
	is even relevant to the question.
----------
But the criminal in essentially all cases has the advantage of surprise.
If anyone is going to get killed in the ensuing gunfight, the odds are it
will be the victim, not the criminal. During World War II we found a
solution to a similar situation in combatting U boats in the Atlantic,
but I doubt you really want to travel only in escorted convoys...

scott preece
pur-ee!uiucdcs!uicsl!preece