Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: Notesfiles $Revision: 1.6.2.17 $; site uiucdcs.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!renner From: renner@uiucdcs.UUCP Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: handgun control Message-ID: <29200180@uiucdcs.UUCP> Date: Sun, 16-Dec-84 11:49:00 EST Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.29200180 Posted: Sun Dec 16 11:49:00 1984 Date-Received: Mon, 17-Dec-84 05:39:57 EST References: <245@gargoyle.UUCP> Lines: 31 Nf-ID: #R:gargoyle:-24500:uiucdcs:29200180:000:1607 Nf-From: uiucdcs!renner Dec 16 10:49:00 1984 > Perhaps I didn't express myself as clearly as I could have > last time. The basic premise we are arguing is "Should there be > strong control of handguns (in particular, a ban on private ownership > of handguns)?" I'm considering this question to be equivalent to > "Do handguns cause more harm than good?" If you disagree with this > extension, please tell me why you think that, assuming handguns do cause > more harm than good, they should still be legal. > -- Mike Ryan (ryan@decwrl) There are a great many things that do more harm than good in this country; for example, alcohol and tobacco. This test by itself is not sufficient. In order to declare a thing X contraband, it should first be shown that in the great majority of cases a person who possesses X is likely to cause harm to others. This is not the case with handguns. There are perhaps 100 million handguns in the US. There must be several million handgun owners. Obviously the great majority of handgun owners harm no one, else there would be many more than 22,000 handgun deaths each year. The government is not entitled to force these people to dispose of their guns, as these people pose very little risk to others. Handgun control, as distinct from handgun prohibition, is a different matter. Handgun control seeks to ensure that handgun owners know how to handle weapons safely, are of sound mind, and are not particularly disposed to violence. Handgun control will only pass when it is clear that the controls are not to be a first step towards a total ban. Scott Renner {ihnp4,pur-ee}!uiucdcs!renner