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From: renner@uiucdcs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: handgun control
Message-ID: <29200185@uiucdcs.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 3-Jan-85 02:40:00 EST
Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.29200185
Posted: Thu Jan  3 02:40:00 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 4-Jan-85 00:31:38 EST
References: <245@gargoyle.UUCP>
Lines: 30
Nf-ID: #R:gargoyle:-24500:uiucdcs:29200185:000:1540
Nf-From: uiucdcs!renner    Jan  3 01:40:00 1985

>> There are a great many things that do more harm than good in this country;
>> for example, alcohol and tobacco.  This test by itself is not sufficient.
>> In order to declare a thing X contraband, it should first be shown that in
>> the great majority of cases a person who possesses X is likely to cause
>> harm to others.  			-- Scott Renner (renner@uiucdcs)

>  Sorry, but this is just nonsense.  There are also thousands of people
>  who own submachine guns, and only a few get used.  Does this mean that
>  submachine guns should be legal, since MOST submachine guns are not
>  used to kill people?			-- (shallit@gargoyle)

If a thing may cause harm when misused, the goverment may place *controls*
on its use.  The more potential harm, the more control.  We require people
to pass driving tests before operating an automobile.  Airline pilots are
more stringently tested because the potential for harm is much greater.

It is possible, although difficult, for private citizens to obtain a 
licence to own and use fully automatic weapons.  This is consistent with
the above:  machine pistols can cause more harm than handguns, so there
should be more controls.

Of course, there comes a point where the potential harm from a thing is
so great that it cannot be tolerated because the society cannot survive
it.  I mention this only to forstall silly arguments like "most atom bombs
aren't used to hurt anyone, so ..."  Handguns and even automatic weapons
are not anywhere near this point.

Scott Renner
{ihnp4,pur-ee}!uiucdcs!renner