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From: renner@uiucdcs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: handgun control
Message-ID: <29200184@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 3-Jan-85 02:40:00 EST
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.29200184
Posted: Thu Jan  3 02:40:00 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 4-Jan-85 00:31:26 EST
References: <245@gargoyle.UUCP>
Lines: 23
Nf-ID: #R:gargoyle:-24500:uiucdcs:29200184:000:1049
Nf-From: uiucdcs!renner    Jan  3 01:40:00 1985

>  As to whether or not the government is ``entitled'' to ``force'' people
>  to dispose of their guns, let's note that the Morton Grove handgun ban
>  has been upheld by the US Supreme Court.  I guess the government IS
>  entitled.			-- (shallit@gargoyle)

You mean "empowered."  The government is empowered to do as much as the
citizens will tolerate, and usually does.  This does not make it legitimate.

We will always disagree on this point because we are working from
different premises.  I believe that a government should not use
coercion except to prevent one person from causing harm to another, and
then only with the consent of the person being protected.  You believe
that the government should force everyone to comply with your ideas of
what is good for them and others, regardless of whether they are
hurting anyone.

There are plenty of people who cannot feel happy or safe unless they can
control the lives of everyone else.  This desire accounts for much of the
evil done in the world.

Scott Renner
{ihnp4,pur-ee}!uiucdcs!renner