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From: orb@whuxl.UUCP (SEVENER)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: handgun control
Message-ID: <407@whuxl.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 31-Dec-84 12:32:33 EST
Article-I.D.: whuxl.407
Posted: Mon Dec 31 12:32:33 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 3-Jan-85 01:12:02 EST
References: <245@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP> <268@ccice6.UUCP> <162@mhuxr.UUCP>  <1296@dciem.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Labs
Lines: 19

> 
> >That's not the point he was making. Does anybody have any statistics for,
> >say, knifing deaths in countries like Britain that have gun control? I 
> >suspect that it's higher per capita than in the US. It's much worse in
> >most cases to be stabbed than shot, so maybe giving the criminals guns
> >so that they don't have to use knives is a good idea...
> >
> >        Wayne
 
Actually unless you consider death superior to life, guns are worse than
knives.  You are six times more likely to be killed if assaulted with a
gun than if assaulted with a knife.  Moreover, since assault with a knife
generally requires close contact (unless the assailant happens to be
an expert knife thrower and willing to bet that one throw hits the mark
and doesn't wind up with the same knife being used by the victim)
there is a greater chance for struggle and flight.
If all criminals were armed only with knives there would be a lot more
victims alive today.
                     tim sevener    whuxl!orb