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From: cjohnson@zehntel.UUCP (Chris Johnson)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Re: handgun control
Message-ID: <1745@zehntel.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 16-Jan-85 13:48:08 EST
Article-I.D.: zehntel.1745
Posted: Wed Jan 16 13:48:08 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 19-Jan-85 10:44:05 EST
Organization: Zehntel Automation Systems Inc, Walnut Creek CA
Lines: 61

Reasons for owning a gun:
	1) Self defense
	2) Hunting/Sport 
	3) Collecting
	4) Crime

Why not ban handguns?
	Self defense :
		con: I will be left defenseless if I am attacked.
		pro: If you own a handgun AND it is used to shoot a
			person there is an 80% chance it will be used to
			shoot you or someone you know.  (source Congressional
			Committee reports circa 1978)
			Think about this - do you think that the odds are 
			a good bet?
	Hunting/Sport :
		con : Don't take away my toys.
		pro : Handguns are not exactly the weapon of choice of
			hunters due to inaccuracy and lack of power.
			If you want a challenge (as was implied in 
			an earlier posting) use a bow and arrow, or
			remove the sights or something.
	Collecting : 
		con : Don't take away my toys.
		pro : Prove to the authorities that your toy can't be
			fired and you can keep it.  It's dangerous to
			fire an antique gun anyway unless its in perfect
			condition.
	Crime : 
		(No one is seriously suggesting that handguns should be
			kept legal so that criminals can have them, are they?
______________________________________________________________________________

Legalistic argument:  
	con: Banning handguns violates the constitution.
	pro: Guess again Chucko.  (oops, there's my bias showing)
		A militia can be well armed with many other possible 
		weapons, and any other interpretation of the second 
		ammendment logically implies that I have a right to my
		own private nuke to be used in event of an attack
		against my country.

Alternate method argument:
	con: criminals will just use knives, rifles, or some such weapon.
	pro: A rifle is very difficult to conceal, a sawwed off shotgun
		is still large, a knife is usually not as lethal (it is
		at least possible to run from a knife).  The plain fact
		is that no weapon is as effective as a handgun from a
		criminal's point of view. It's easy to conceal, and fairly
		lethal.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Suggested method of implementing a ban: 
	1) Ban handguns and all 'law abiding' owners will turn them in.
	2) Have yearly amnesties, say one week, when guns may be turned in 
		without  fear of arrest.
	3) Perhaps offer a reward for any gun turned in to get peoples 
		greed motive in action.

For  your consideration,
	Chris "I asked this guy and he said it made sense" Johnson