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From: jpexg@mit-hermes.ARPA (John Purbrick)
Newsgroups: net.legal
Subject: Re: Lock picks and like that.
Message-ID: <2394@mit-hermes.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 15-May-85 19:06:18 EDT
Article-I.D.: mit-herm.2394
Posted: Wed May 15 19:06:18 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 17-May-85 03:19:42 EDT
References: <358@linus.UUCP> <604@tpvax.fluke.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: The MIT AI Lab, Cambridge, MA
Lines: 17

> why it is illegal to possess bicycle spokes filed down and bent 
> in certain configurations, coat hangers with same adjectives, and other 
> assorted items (better known as lockpicks)? 
> Since when is the ability to do something the same as having done it?
>                                                        -the venn buddhist


Sorry to plagiarize someone else, but this was discussed a few months ago,
and somebody told a story of a guy out west somewhere who was indeed indicted
for possession of burglars' tools. The judge said "Possession of these tools
proves the intent to use them", and the defendant said "Does that mean I'll
be tried for rape next?"

John Purbrick					jpexg@mit-hermes.ARPA
{...decvax!genrad!  ...allegra!mit-vax!}  mit-eddie!mit-hermes!jpexg