Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site mit-vax.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!harvard!think!mit-eddie!mit-vax!csdf From: csdf@mit-vax.UUCP (Charles Forsythe) Newsgroups: net.women Subject: Re: rape and firearms Message-ID: <456@mit-vax.UUCP> Date: Wed, 24-Jul-85 19:23:46 EDT Article-I.D.: mit-vax.456 Posted: Wed Jul 24 19:23:46 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 26-Jul-85 03:37:14 EDT References: <568@ttidcc.UUCP> <419@mit-vax.UUCP> <28641@lanl.ARPA> Reply-To: csdf@mit-vax.UUCP (Charles Forsythe) Organization: MIT, Cambridge, MA Lines: 80 In article <28641@lanl.ARPA> crs@lanl.ARPA writes: >I guess I wouldn't consider pacificism to be synonymous with >non-violent. Further, if I recall your original posting, Charles, it >seems to me that *you* made some generalization equating purchase of a >firearm with violence. As someone who enjoys shooting target pistol, I honestly didn't mean to make a generalization. I was specifically addressing people who buy weapons to shoot other people with. >I (and probably at least a few others) don't consider defending one's >self from violence to be an act of violence. Not per se. Consider what webster says: Violence: to use force with the intent of injury or abuse. If you shoot a rapist, that's violent. Don't try to re-define the English language! It's violence. Now, shooting people is a particularly nasty form of violence because it makes a lot of noise and tends to induce death in the victim (not always, but often enough). I was trying to point out that some people don't want to deal with this so saying,"We'll fix rape, just give everyone guns," won't do shit because some people just won't carry guns. >If you choose to turn >the other cheek and accept an act of violence against you without >trying to defend yourself against it other than by avoidance that is >fine with me. Actually, the first thing I do is turn and run. If this is out of the question, I have to become violent. I don't need a gun to be violent, though; nobody does. >I RESPECT YOUR RIGHT TO DO SO. I also think it would >be nice if you respected the rights of others to defend themselves >against acts of violence provided, of course, that they accept the >responsibilities that are part of that defense. I do respect that right, but what has it got to do with carrying guns? In Massachusetts, it is very difficult to legally own a firearm, but a sword of any length, as long it is not double edged, can be carried legally. I admit swordplay gets a bit bloody, but so does a shooting and psyochological studies show that it's much easier for a person to whip out a pistol and pull the trigger without thinking than whip out a sword and start hacking without thinking. Since a lot of handgun violence is heat-of-the-moment anger, I'd feel safer in a room full of sword weilding people than gun weilding ones. Anyway, swords have much more style! >If I am misinterpreting your postings, I apologize, but I get the >impression that you are one of those who think the criminals rights >are more important than those of the victim. No, not at all. I just don't like handguns. I think they are too dangerous for the silly lack of forethought we americans give them. By all means, if a rapist attacks I hope the M*********ER dies painfully. >Finally, as Adrienne pointed out, many people buy firearms for reasons >that have nothing to do with violence even by your definition unless >you consider shooting holes in paper targets or breaking clay targets >to be acts of violence. Hey! I own a target pistol! It's not a terribly good one, a Mark I .22 caliber, but I have a great deal of fun shooting holes in paper. I do, however, feel that shooting clay targets is immoral :-). Anyway, as a person who has fired pistols, I would rather have other weapons available in a street crime situation. Television cop shows are exciting, but far too unrealistic. -- Charles Forsythe CSDF@MIT-VAX Wang Zeep:"Lord Fred, how can I show them you are the True God?" Lord Fred:"Because I said I am." Wang Zeep:"Seriously." Lord Fred:"Look, it works for every other religion."