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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!harpo!eagle!mhuxl!mhuxm!pyuxi!pyuxhh!dxp
From: dxp@pyuxhh.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: another one bites the dust
Message-ID: <604@pyuxhh.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 22-Nov-83 11:00:20 EST
Article-I.D.: pyuxhh.604
Posted: Tue Nov 22 11:00:20 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 25-Nov-83 03:45:48 EST
Organization: Bell Labs, Piscataway
Lines: 54

To: pyuxi!mhuxm!mhuxl!houxm!ihnp4!clyde!akgua!emory!gatech!spaf
Subject: Re: Another one bites the dust
References: <2295@gatech.UUCP>

Gene ,
   I can understand you being upset about the tragic deaths of the kids
mentioned  your article and I agree that the deaths were needless.
However I have to disagree with your convoluted logic about banning
guns being a panacea.                                           
   The person who killed his spouse and kids was severely disturbed 
about something and probably would have used a knife,axe,poison or one
of several other methods(I doubt he wouldhave used a bow & arrow).
Kids are very curious by nature or have you forgotten,we all used to do
potentially very dangerous things which could have ended our lives.Kids
need teaching at as early an age as possible what is dangerous and what 
should be left alone.A lot of parents(sic) do not deserve to be in a
position to be responsible for raising children.The kids of such parents
are much more prone to be the ones involved in the tragic accidents 
mentioned.If the parents are not responsible enough to :
  a) keep guns out of the reach of children
  b) teach youngsters (who are old enough to have guns) to be absolutely
     sure of what they are aiming(& shooting) at.
the actions of the children are almost certain to lead them into a situation
where they will jepodise themselves and others.

b) above also breeds a new generation of "slob" hunters.Who will pass on
bad habits to succeeding generations.

 Handgun deaths fall into four categories

1) Justifiable homicide                  police shooting felon,
                                         self defence (when life is threatened)
2) Intentional criminal act              mugger,armed robbery,disturbed
                      		         husband etc
3) Accidental shooting


   I really don't believe banning handguns will eliminate the first two,it
would however eliminate some of the last group.         

   I believenough americans want to retain guns that they will not be 
banned in our lifetimes,therefore I would suggest a state and national
firearms education policy.When conscription was the order of the day and
almost all young men had to serve in the armed forces they were taught
about firearms.I suspect that all those that served in the armed forces
have a VERY healthy respect for firearms and treat them accordingly.
Unfortunately I doubt very much that I'll see an education program as 
much as I doubt you'll see banning of handguns.


			Dave Peak(pyuxhh!dxp)

P.S. No more banal bow and arrow analogies please as its ridiculousness
     detracts from an otherwise serious article.