Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!hoptoad!amdcad!amdahl!ames!rutgers!bellcore!wind!tr From: tr@wind.UUCP Newsgroups: misc.headlines,alt.flame Subject: Re: Replying to Gun Nuts Propaganda (was COMPUTER USER...) Message-ID: <3078@bellcore.bellcore.com> Date: Thu, 15-Oct-87 09:34:32 EDT Article-I.D.: bellcore.3078 Posted: Thu Oct 15 09:34:32 1987 Date-Received: Sat, 17-Oct-87 10:45:05 EDT References: <7428@reed.UUCP> <21198@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> <826@pbhyc.UUCP> <21230@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> <4335@zen.berkeley.edu> Sender: news@bellcore.bellcore.com Reply-To: tr@wind.UUCP (tom reingold) Distribution: usa Organization: Bellcore, Morristown, Noo Joizy Lines: 38 Xref: hoptoad misc.headlines:2678 alt.flame:266 In article <4335@zen.berkeley.edu> gsnyder@cory writes: $ All this discussion about gun control has raised a few questions $ in my mind: $ $ Would a ban on handguns limit their availability to those $ who use them the most to kill? Are most gun deaths caused by those who use guns the most to kill? Or are they caused by people who use them once, i.e. not the serious or professional murderers? This is a serious question. $ Would the number of handgun related deaths increase or decrease as $ the result of a handgun ban? In the United States as well? See my previous question. $ Does a handgun actually protect? Will it actually prevent one from $ being mugged, raped, and robbed or will it just make one feel $ *confident* that they will be able to escape from any of the above $ unscaythed? If that's the case, how can we justify carrying guns? Confidence of protection without real protection doesn't sound very valuable to me. $ I see these questions as central to the handgun ban issue and until $ both sides can agree on any of these questions I don't see much $ headway being made. :-) Of course both sides don't agree. That's what makes the fact that there ARE sides. In other words, since people disagree, people disagree. Or did I miss your point? Were you saying that we have to agree on what the questions are before we can start producing helpful answers? If that's your point, I definitely agree! Tom Reingold INTERNET: tr@bellcore.bellcore.com Bell Communications Research UUCP: !bellcore!tr 435 South St room 2L350 SOUNDNET: (201) 829-5119 [work] Morristown, NJ 07960 (201) 287-2345 [home]