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From: josh@topaz.ARPA (J Storrs Hall)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Do those for gun control "hate guns"?
Message-ID: <250@topaz.ARPA>
Date: Mon, 14-Jan-85 00:36:55 EST
Article-I.D.: topaz.250
Posted: Mon Jan 14 00:36:55 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 16-Jan-85 21:17:53 EST
References: <> <265@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP> <2223@randvax.UUCP> <2228@randvax.UUCP> <636@whuxlm.UUCP> <> <290@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP>
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.
Lines: 77

> In article <> josh@topaz.ARPA (J Storrs Hall) writes:
> >
> >The fact that the gun controllers response is emotional is of consideral
> >importance.  This is why gun control is touted as a panacea--if they
> >don't get it for one reason there are lots of other reasons they can 
> >trot out.  In private conversations with such people it becomes
> >immediately apparent that their basic motive is a dislike of guns.
> >I have even had net correspondents admit it outright--perhaps Jeff Shallit
> >is honest enough to do so here.
> >
[Jeff responds:]
>      This sort of statement is not only ludicrous, but insulting.
> I don't "hate guns".  From day to day, I don't even think much about them,
> much less "hate" them.  

I doubt that, considering the volume of material you've submitted to
this newsgroup over the month I've been reading it.  I repeat: the HCI
propaganda is highly emotionally charged stuff, and it's easy to read it
and go rushing out to save the world with your heart on your sleeve.

>      What I do hate is the thought of more than 30 people killed each
> day by handguns.

Well, let's see.  A (1981) almanac and a calculator provide the
following breakdown:
In the US, 5205 people die every day.  Most die of disease, about half
heart disease.  (Major cause: smoking.)  273 of the deaths
are from accidents, about half (136) auto.  38 die from falling down.
19 people drown.  17 are burned to death.  14 people are fatally poisoned.
8 people choke to death on something they were eating.  ...and 5 die
in gun accidents (of all kinds).
Each day, 73 people commit suicide, and 55 are murdered.  5 in New York
City alone, with its super-strict "gun control".  If we accept
Jeff's figure, more people die falling off ladders and downstairs than
from handguns.  --and that includes ALL handgun death.  Falling is a 
favorite way to commit suicide but that's not included in the accident
figure.  (Suicide deaths are included in Jeff's number--remember what I
said about panaceas?)

Where is the push for stair registration?  Ladder waiting
periods?  Mandatory sentences for swimming without a license?  
FOOD CONTROL!!!

If you seek more corroboration for my contention that gun control
is an emotionally motivated political power play, recall the
recently quoted "awards" by Mike Royko (a nationally syndicated 
columnist) for gun accidents.  Royko obviously hates gun owners;
would he give an award for Person With Most Artistic Third Degree
Burns All Over His Body?  For Remains Most Widely Scattered in 
a Car Accident?  For Most Broken Bones From a Stepladder Fall?
No--cruel jibes that would be considered disgustingly callous
and uncivilized are just fine when directed at gun owners.

I believe that if Jeff were seriously concerned about people dying in
the US, he might (a) lend his writing talents and net access to
a graphic discussion of emphysema, perhaps causing some reader to
quit smoking and thereby actually doing something to save lives;
or if he is fascinated with murder per se, (b) try for stricter
sentencing laws for actual crimes against persons (since a large
percentage of murders are done by someone on conditional release
(probation or parole) for violent crimes of which they have been
convicted; (c) work to repeal the drug laws and put a large portion
of the underworld out of business.

Assuming that Jeff's fondest wish came true, and (another) national
gun law were passed, and somehow magically all handgun owners repented
of their sins, and gave up their guns to be beaten into plowshares,
and nobody jumped off a bridge because he couldn't shoot himself,
and nobody robbed a store with a sawed-off shotgun because he couldn't
get a "Saturday Night Special", and nobody shot at a political figure
with a hunting rifle because he couldn't get a .22 target pistol;
THEN, the number of people who died every day might go from 5205
to 5175.  

I look at the rhetoric askance.

--JoSH