Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!gargoyle!shallit From: shallit@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP (Jeff Shallit) Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: Don't restrict MY access to handguns just because Message-ID: <263@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP> Date: Wed, 2-Jan-85 09:21:17 EST Article-I.D.: gargoyle.263 Posted: Wed Jan 2 09:21:17 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 3-Jan-85 03:47:57 EST References:<1305@dciem.UUCP> <6788@brl-tgr.ARPA> <2130@nsc.UUCP> <> Reply-To: shallit@gargoyle.UUCP (Jeff ) Distribution: net Organization: U. Chicago - Computer Science Lines: 41 Summary: In article <> ajlill@watrose.UUCP () writes: > > You seem to be implying that ownership of handguns leads to crime. >(If not, I apologise, however this delusion seems to be rampant in >supporters of handgun control). This is a completely unsupportable conclusion. >And is in fact, counter-intuitive. It's no delusion -- look at the statistics at the District of Columbia report that shows that the crime rate and homicide rate declined drastically after handgun control was instituted. Similar, though less dramatic results, were reported in Massachusetts after handgun control was instituted. > >One thing that has always bothered me is that those who support handgun >control seem to think that it will magicly cut the crime rate. This is a >bogus conclusion. It will make all honest, law-abiding citizens get rid of >their handguns. But the people who commit crimes are CRIMINALS. They don't >care about your law. If they want a gun, they will get one. Drug laws have >not eliminated junkies, and similarly, handgun laws will not eliminate >(or even slow down ) crime. In fact, you will just create a great new >money-making enterprise for the Mob. > One thing that has always bothered me about the gun nuts is that they are always bringing up the ``honest, law-abiding citizen'' ploy. The fact is that over 50% of handgun homicides occur between acquaintances, e. g. husband-wife, father-son, etc. The fact is that the people who really suffer from widespread handgun ownership is the honest, law-abiding citizen. It has been proven by several studies, including Zimring, that ownership of a gun in a home is 5 times more likely to kill a member of that household than to foil an intruder. So explain how a handgun is really a means of protection. Before you make such unsubstantiated claims, why not read the literature? /Jeff Shallit