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From: shallit@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP (Jeff Shallit)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Don't restrict MY access to handguns just because
Message-ID: <263@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 2-Jan-85 09:21:17 EST
Article-I.D.: gargoyle.263
Posted: Wed Jan  2 09:21:17 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 3-Jan-85 03:47:57 EST
References:  <1305@dciem.UUCP> <6788@brl-tgr.ARPA> <2130@nsc.UUCP> <>
Reply-To: shallit@gargoyle.UUCP (Jeff )
Distribution: net
Organization: U. Chicago - Computer Science
Lines: 41
Summary: 

In article <> ajlill@watrose.UUCP () writes:
>
>	You seem to be implying that ownership of handguns leads to crime.
>(If not, I apologise, however this delusion seems to be rampant in
>supporters of handgun control).  This is a completely unsupportable conclusion.
>And is in fact, counter-intuitive.

    It's no delusion -- look at the statistics at the District of Columbia
report that shows that the crime rate and homicide rate declined 
drastically after handgun control was instituted.

     Similar, though less dramatic results, were reported in Massachusetts
after handgun control was instituted.

>
>One thing that has always bothered me is that those who support handgun
>control seem to think that it will magicly cut the crime rate.  This is a
>bogus conclusion. It will make all honest, law-abiding citizens get rid of
>their handguns. But the people who commit crimes are CRIMINALS. They don't
>care about your law. If they want a gun, they will get one. Drug laws have
>not eliminated junkies, and similarly, handgun laws will not eliminate
>(or even slow down ) crime. In fact, you will just create a great new
>money-making enterprise for the Mob.
>

     One thing that has always bothered me about the gun nuts is that they
are always bringing up the ``honest, law-abiding citizen'' ploy.  The
fact is that over 50% of handgun homicides occur between acquaintances,
e. g. husband-wife, father-son, etc.  The fact is that the people who
really suffer from widespread handgun ownership is the honest, law-abiding
citizen.

     It has been proven by several studies, including Zimring, that
ownership of a gun in a home is 5 times more likely to kill a member
of that household than to foil an intruder.  So explain how a handgun
is really a means of protection.

     Before you make such unsubstantiated claims, why not read the
literature?

/Jeff Shallit