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From: david@randvax.UUCP (David Shlapak)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: handgun control
Message-ID: <2228@randvax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 3-Jan-85 14:46:49 EST
Article-I.D.: randvax.2228
Posted: Thu Jan  3 14:46:49 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 6-Jan-85 00:21:07 EST
References: <> <265@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP> <2223@randvax.UUCP>
Organization: Rand Corp., Santa Monica
Lines: 30

> I'd be interested in answers from the control advocates to the following
> question:  Assuming some sort of national handgun control is instituted,
> why do you think that that will prevent criminals from getting handguns
> illegally, just as most of them do now?
> 
> 
> 					Lauri
> 					rohn@rand-unix.ARPA
> 					..decvax!randvax!rohn
> 
> 

    Well, if it IS nearly impossible to legally carry a handgun in New
    York (which may or may not be true...I've heard conflicting stories
    about this), but it's easy to get one in, say, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
    or Connecticut (which, again, may or may not be the case), it seems like
    a pretty simple job to acquire an "illegal" handgun in, Philly, and take
    the traim back to Manhatan.

    That's the whole point of NATIONAL gun control...making it harder to
    get a handgun anywhere.  One of the most pernicious characteristics of
    a handgun is its size; it's not at all difficult to carry one from
    point A, where there are no or lax gun control laws, to point B,
    where stricter regulations may exist.  A national law could be quite
    effective in preventing this traffic in semi-legal weaponry.

    Remember, most "illegal" handguns were legal at some point in their
    travels...

					    --- das