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: <29200184@uiucdcs.UUCP> Date: Thu, 3-Jan-85 02:40:00 EST Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.29200184 Posted: Thu Jan 3 02:40:00 1985 Date-Received: Fri, 4-Jan-85 00:31:26 EST References: <245@gargoyle.UUCP> Lines: 23 Nf-ID: #R:gargoyle:-24500:uiucdcs:29200184:000:1049 Nf-From: uiucdcs!renner Jan 3 01:40:00 1985 > As to whether or not the government is ``entitled'' to ``force'' people > to dispose of their guns, let's note that the Morton Grove handgun ban > has been upheld by the US Supreme Court. I guess the government IS > entitled. -- (shallit@gargoyle) You mean "empowered." The government is empowered to do as much as the citizens will tolerate, and usually does. This does not make it legitimate. We will always disagree on this point because we are working from different premises. I believe that a government should not use coercion except to prevent one person from causing harm to another, and then only with the consent of the person being protected. You believe that the government should force everyone to comply with your ideas of what is good for them and others, regardless of whether they are hurting anyone. There are plenty of people who cannot feel happy or safe unless they can control the lives of everyone else. This desire accounts for much of the evil done in the world. Scott Renner {ihnp4,pur-ee}!uiucdcs!renner