Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site decwrl.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!ucbvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-pundit!black From: black@pundit.DEC (DON BLACK DTN 261-2739 MS: NIO/N13 LOC: POLE C6) Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Handgun control--one more time. Message-ID: <3207@decwrl.UUCP> Date: Fri, 19-Jul-85 12:20:58 EDT Article-I.D.: decwrl.3207 Posted: Fri Jul 19 12:20:58 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 20-Jul-85 12:28:21 EDT Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP Organization: DEC Engineering Network Lines: 143 >In article <228@persci.UUCP> bill@persci.UUCP (Bill Swan) writes: >>He lives in the United States. What fairy-tale land are you living in? > >I live in Cambridge, in the country of Massachusetts. People die when >they're shot by muggers, here. Luckily, my country enacted gun control >legislation a while back and not as many people get shot any more. (More properly, it's Cambridge, in the PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC of Massachusetts.) I sure would like to see some statistics about how many muggers have SHOT people in Cambridge over the past couple of years. More than likely, a Cambridge mugger will use a knife over a handgun. The people who use handguns are usually from Boston, who drive to Cambridge (typically in a stolen car) and hold up a liquor store or pharmacy. Several years ago, there was a pharmacy on Massachusetts Ave. in East Arlington, right over the line from Cambridge, the Maida Pharmacy, as I recall. At least once a year, somebody would walk in, pull a gun, and demand various drugs. Now, Old Man Maida had little patience about such things. He kept a very large Horse Pistol behind his counter and in his safe. At least once a year, the Arlington police would carry an ex-criminal out of the pharmacy in a body bag. Regarding the number of people shot in Massachusetts, the decline is because of an overall drop in crime nation-wide. It has little, if anything, to do with the Bartley-Fox Act. If we look closely at this Act, we find that it was pushed through the legislature under pressure from the Hero of Chappaquiddick. By comparison, in New Hampshire where 50-80% of the households have a firearm in them, the crime statistics are extremely low. Children learn to handle weapons properly almost as soon as they can walk. Pistol permits are routinely issued within 24 hours of application, if the applicant is not a convicted felon. For further comparison, check out the crime rate in New York City, where the Sullivan Act rules supreme. >Summary: > >In article <406@ttidcb.UUCP> bellas@ttidcb.UUCP (Quicks' Draw) writes: >>gone about a normal life (there is no way the police could protect >>you in this situation). >>Think before you label handguns as only used for crime, there are >>many legitimate uses. >> >> -Pete- In many sections of Maine and New Hampshire, a prudent blueberry picker carries the largest pistol he can find. Most bears have no sense of humor when it comes to humans raiding their berry supply. (Not to mention that we get a lot of tourists up here, and they bring all their obnoxious habits with them.) Over the past couple of years, the courts have ruled that a) the INDIVIDUAL PERSON has primary responsibility for protecting himself, and b) the police have no legal obligation to protect the individual, rather, their obligation is to the community in general. Therefore, the prudent person has the right to do whatever is necessary to protect himself. Martial arts are not for everybody. One cannot logically expect a 60- year-old woman to properly perform a Side-Kick-to-the-Groin. And nobody in their right mind goes blade-to-blade with a knife-wielding street fighter. In most states, it is a violation of Fish & Game laws to carry a loaded rifle or shotgun in a vehicle. Such weapons are also very unwieldy at close quarters. It follows, then, that the most logical personal defense weapon is a handgun. >>I often carry my handgun when out trailriding >>to dispatch rattlesnakes where again a long gun would be impractical. >I'm sure that in a gun-control situation, the authorities would be happy >to license your use. Just for your own education, why don't you try applying for a handgun permit with the Cambridge police. Tell them you want a permit for the purpose of protection of life and property, while travelling and camping in wilderness areas. I'll bet money they reject the application. >As for handguns used for crime... there are no rattlesnakes in Cambridge >Massachusetts The rattlesnakes in Cambridge walk on two legs. (Somehow I have a complex about walking around Central and Kendall Square alone after dark.) >and lots of police. I'll say! The following departments have jurisdiction in Cambridge: Cambridge City Police Metropolitan (MDC) Police Massachusetts State Police Registry of Motor Vehicles Police Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Police Boston & Maine Railroad Police Harvard University Campus Police M.I.T. Campus Police Under the BayPErN agreement, mutual aid, including the right of hot pursuit, is authorized with Boston, Somerville, Revere, Everette, Winthrop, Arlington, Watertown, Belmont, Medford, etc., etc. Not to mention the Federal officers that guard the D.O.T. building. But the last time I needed a cop in Cambridge, it took thirty minutes to find one. And that was in the middle of Harvard Square! >If somebody is carrying a .357, they >are more than likely up to no good. [Charles Forsythe CSDF@MIT-VAX] 1) That's YOUR opinion. 2) They have a right to carry under most circumstances. 3) In America, a person is considered innocent until proven guilty, in case you've forgotten. 4) Only free men own guns. By the way, Charles....Do you recall the incident in Boston a week or so ago, where a person called 911 to report a rape in progress? The person was put on hold twice, and hung up on. It was only by chance that a cruiser was in the area, and the subject was apprehended. (This story has been all over the Boston Globe for a week.) Remember that if the witness to the rape had been carrying a handgun, one round would have prevented the crime. And the taxpayers of Massachusetts would be spared the expense of warehousing another scumbag. >"The Church of Fred has yet to come under attack...." > -Rev. Wang Zeep It would seem that the Church of Fred doesn't have a steeple to stand on. --Don Black