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From: rohn@randvax.UUCP (Laurinda Rohn)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: handgun control
Message-ID: <2223@randvax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 3-Jan-85 12:21:36 EST
Article-I.D.: randvax.2223
Posted: Thu Jan  3 12:21:36 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 6-Jan-85 00:19:44 EST
References: <> <265@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP>
Organization: Rand Corp., Santa Monica
Lines: 50

> In article <> ark@alice.UUCP (Andrew Koenig) writes:
> >To all those people wailing about how many people are killed
> >by handguns and how much better everything would be if those
> >guns were illegal:
> >
> >	What fraction of the handguns used to commit crimes
> >	do you suppose are actually legally held?
> >
> >I know the answer for New York City:  almost none...
> >
> >If enough people want something badly enough, making it illegal
> >has about as much effect as closing your eyes and pretending
> >it isn't there.
> >
> >If we really want to solve the crime problem, maybe we have to
> >look a little deeper for the solution.
> 
> from /Jeff Shallit
>      You have listed at least one argument for effective NATIONAL
> gun control.  You can't tell me that if there were strictly enforced
> registration policies;  if illegal transfer of handguns made the
> seller liable for the buyer's actions;

Part of the idea of illegal transfer is that you can't trace the "seller".
What then?

>                                        and if it were easy for
> police departments to request ownership information, that this
> handgun madness wouldn't decrease significantly.

If the gun is illegally owned, there isn't going to be any ownership
information.

I don't think you quite addressed the question here.  I believe Andrew's
point, which I think is a relevant one, is that many, and possibly most,
handguns which have been used to kill people or to commit crimes are
*not* legally held.

I'd be interested in answers from the control advocates to the following
question:  Assuming some sort of national handgun control is instituted,
why do you think that that will prevent criminals from getting handguns
illegally, just as most of them do now?


					Lauri
					rohn@rand-unix.ARPA
					..decvax!randvax!rohn


"The best laid plans of mice and men are usually equal."