Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site drusd.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!drutx!drusd!phl
From: phl@drusd.UUCP (LavettePH)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Re: Re: Gun Control
Message-ID: <1220@drusd.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 31-Jan-85 16:30:45 EST
Article-I.D.: drusd.1220
Posted: Thu Jan 31 16:30:45 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 2-Feb-85 08:46:20 EST
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver
Lines: 45

>Thanks for establishing that the "zip gun" (where did you get the idea that
>the term offended anyone?) was a way for one hood to kill another thirty years
>ago...now how about establishing that it's a significant problem today...
>it is, after all, today's handgun victim's that we can do something about...
>
>					--- das

Thirty years ago - a problem due to the shortage of the real thing.  We agree.

Today - no problem due to the availability of the real thing.  We agree again?

Five or ten years hence - the problem returns again due to another shortage?

Think about it a little.  Let's assume that the fondest wishes of the most rabid
gun-control types are realized and laws are passed that outlaw firearms entirely
and permit ATF to conduct a house-to-house search and confiscate every firearm
in the country.  Since the private citizen is unarmed there will be no further
need to arm the police.  Now what do you intend to do when someone decides to
do you or your family in with his home made pistol?

If all you think you have to do is pass another gun control act to stop crime
you are sadly mistaken.  I know it's a cliche', but we all should be directing
our efforts to controlling the criminal and trying to come up with a solution
we all won't regret in a few years because, in our haste, we just added a band-
aid to all the others we've been putting on a broken leg.

Before you pass any law, ask yourself who is going to obey it.  I know, another
cliche'. The fact remains that whenever a sizeable minority feel that the major-
ity has burdened them with a law that is senseless or too burdensome or too
costly or discrimminates against their perception of their rights they simply
ignore it and it becomes unenforceable.  If you doubt me, try driving down I-25
at 55mph or read that stuff in the papers lately about marijuana being our sec-
ond largest agricultural crop, second only to corn in value.

Before we allow the heat of the moment stampede us into another useless gesture
why don't we all start asking the right people why they are not enforcing the
ones that we already have and that they are sworn to enforce?

Sure we have to do something about today's victims. But why restrict the efforts
to just hand gun victims?  Why not *all* victims?  By the way, I'm not including
those four maggots in NYC as "victims".  They made their decision to flirt with
death the minute they decided to confront Mr. Goetz.

- Phil