Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihdev.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!ihdev!rjv
From: rjv@ihdev.UUCP (ron vaughn)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: gun control
Message-ID: <141@ihdev.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 15-Jan-85 14:03:53 EST
Article-I.D.: ihdev.141
Posted: Tue Jan 15 14:03:53 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 16-Jan-85 05:15:49 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 67

i am posting this for a friend.  if you want to reply to russ directly, please 
use the address given at the bottom of the letter.

	thanks,

	ron vaughn

==================================================================
I hear alot of talk about guns having no purpose except to kill people.
I would like to tell of some of the other reasons.  One, is collecting
pistols as art.  To those who like to own and collect guns, they have
an aesthetic beauty.  Guns offer a unique combination of finish, crafts-
manship, and technical ingenuity that is attractive to some.  Guns are
not only functional, but sometimes are also embellished with artwork in
the form of engravings, and even when they are not, there is a subtle
beauty in their simplicity.  Also, there is collecting for investment, and
collecting pistols as antiques.  Another reason people own pistols is for
sport.  Both hunting and target shooting.  It is legal to hunt with pistols
in many states, and while there aren't many people doing it, this is a
legitimate use of handguns.  Another sporting use is for target practice.
Target shooting with pistols is a discipline which takes alot of practice
and concentration, and is similar in some aspects to archery.  The obvious
use (which one hears alot about on the net) is for self-defense.

I understand that people who grew up in the city or were not exposed to
guns may not understand these uses, but consider the case of me and my
father.  We both own a variety of long guns and handguns for all of the
above reasons. My folks live in a rural area of Oklahoma on a small 
acreage where we have at times raised chickens and cows.  If we were
confronted with criminals it would take upwards of 30 minutes for a
police officer to arrive, even IF he reacted immediately to the call AND
our roads were in good shape (we live on dirt roads, which tend to get
bad if it rains alot, which is also why we keep a good supply of fire
extinguishers around).  On a farm, pistols are useful to have around to
dispatch snakes, coyotes and other vermin (which some could argue include
rustlers, poachers, and other misc. criminals).  When you are mending a
fence or have your hands full feeding hay to the cattle, you may not
be able to get quick access to a long gun when you need it.  A handgun
is powerful, portable, and right on your hip when you need it.  Of
course these are the very aspects that make it attractive to criminals, but
they are also the very attributes that also make it useful for the police
and for the outdoorsman.  Both me and my father also enjoy target shooting.
Not only does this provide practice for the time when you might need to
use a handgun, but it is alot of fun as well.  When I'm home, one of our
favorite activities is go out in the back yard and shoot at old coffee
cans.  We also enjoy attending gun shows together, where we can view
the beauty and diversity of guns and talk with all manner of collectors,
hunters and outdoorsmen.

Just think about this before you propose to ban or restrict the ownership
of guns.  You are talking about banning or restricting the tool that my
father (who is a law-abiding citizen of these United States) uses for
protection, recreation, sport, and keeps as an investment. A tool that he
has chosen carefully and paid alot of money for, as well and spending a
significant amount of time taking care of and learning to use properly.
He wants to keep his guns.  This is also why he is a member of the NRA,
and why many other people are too.  He may submit to registration if it is
a national law, but I wouldn't try to take his guns away from him.
You may get them barrel first.  He (and I) take gun rights seriously.

				Replies to:	Russell Spence
						ihnp4!ihlpm!russ
						AT&T Technologies
						Naperville, IL