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: Happy New Year to NRA members Message-ID: <29200187@uiucdcs.UUCP> Date: Thu, 3-Jan-85 02:42:00 EST Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.29200187 Posted: Thu Jan 3 02:42:00 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 4-Jan-85 00:32:16 EST References: <262@gargoyle.UUCP> Lines: 30 Nf-ID: #R:gargoyle:-26200:uiucdcs:29200187:000:1531 Nf-From: uiucdcs!renner Jan 3 01:42:00 1985 > I just heard on the news that in the past 12 hours there were three > handgun deaths in Chicago. In the most tragic incident, a six-year-old > boy was shot to death by his eight-year-old cousin. > > When are we going to get national handgun control? > -- Jeff Shallit (shallit@gargoyle) Probably never. There is a very large group of people who are very determined to hold onto their rifles, shotguns, and handguns. They will continue to oppose all handgun control laws -- even the mild ones, like registration -- because they believe that these are intended as a first step towards disarming them completely. It's easy to see why they believe this. They listen to the handgun control proponents. Most of these people talk about *control*, but it is clear that what they want is a handgun *ban*. Some go further, talking about how we should "melt all the guns," take away shotguns and rifles, trust the police to protect us, and live together in peace and harmony. I belive that firearm ownership should be regulated; after all, guns are nearly as dangerous as motor vehicles, and we require testing and licensing for these. I believe that the gun owners would consent to these laws if they thought the purpose was regulation and not a ban. I believe that without the consent of the gun owners, gun control laws will never be passed and enforced. I find it ironic that each time Jeff screams about the need for gun "control" he reduces the chance of any change. Scott Renner {ihnp4,pur-ee}!uiucdcs!renner