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!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxj!houxm!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!renner From: renner@uiucdcs.UUCP Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: handgun control Message-ID: <29200185@uiucdcs.UUCP> Date: Thu, 3-Jan-85 02:40:00 EST Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.29200185 Posted: Thu Jan 3 02:40:00 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 4-Jan-85 00:31:38 EST References: <245@gargoyle.UUCP> Lines: 30 Nf-ID: #R:gargoyle:-24500:uiucdcs:29200185:000:1540 Nf-From: uiucdcs!renner Jan 3 01:40:00 1985 >> 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. -- Scott Renner (renner@uiucdcs) > Sorry, but this is just nonsense. There are also thousands of people > who own submachine guns, and only a few get used. Does this mean that > submachine guns should be legal, since MOST submachine guns are not > used to kill people? -- (shallit@gargoyle) If a thing may cause harm when misused, the goverment may place *controls* on its use. The more potential harm, the more control. We require people to pass driving tests before operating an automobile. Airline pilots are more stringently tested because the potential for harm is much greater. It is possible, although difficult, for private citizens to obtain a licence to own and use fully automatic weapons. This is consistent with the above: machine pistols can cause more harm than handguns, so there should be more controls. Of course, there comes a point where the potential harm from a thing is so great that it cannot be tolerated because the society cannot survive it. I mention this only to forstall silly arguments like "most atom bombs aren't used to hurt anyone, so ..." Handguns and even automatic weapons are not anywhere near this point. Scott Renner {ihnp4,pur-ee}!uiucdcs!renner