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From: peterb@pbear.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: Re: Well, Reagan was RIGHT!!
Message-ID: <64@pbear.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 26-Feb-85 05:36:55 EST
Article-I.D.: pbear.64
Posted: Tue Feb 26 05:36:55 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 1-Mar-85 06:41:42 EST
Lines: 12
Nf-ID: #R:uiucdcs:674947796:pbear:26400001:000:521
Nf-From: pbear!peterb    Feb 25 09:38:00 1985


	The main reason that serial numbers were put on weapons is that
it makes tracing a lost/stolen weapon easier.  In boot camp, a soldier
is required to memorize his rifles serial number, and a weapon inspection
starts by comparing the serial number to the one issued to the
cadet/recruit/grunt.  This is the main reason for serializing weapons.

	Also the price of serializing a weapon is trivial compared to the
cost of producing a barrel or reload mechanism (for an automatic).

					Peter Barada
					ima!pbear!peterb