Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 exptools; site whuxlm.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!whuxlm!mag From: mag@whuxlm.UUCP (Gray Michael A) Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: Re: handgun control Message-ID: <636@whuxlm.UUCP> Date: Sat, 5-Jan-85 19:52:04 EST Article-I.D.: whuxlm.636 Posted: Sat Jan 5 19:52:04 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 6-Jan-85 03:57:25 EST References: <> <265@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP> <2223@randvax.UUCP> <2228@randvax.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Whippany Lines: 48 > 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), True. Permits to legally carry handguns are almost unobtainable. > 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. > Why on earth would one bother? There are MILLIONS of illegal handguns available for sale in this country. Try this: go to any bar in upper Manhattan. Remark that you need a piece and have the money to pay for it. Wait about 15 minutes. You may need to wait 20 minutes. > 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 As I said, there are millions of guns around. ANYBODY with money can get one if s/he wants to, easily, without traveling. If you stopped all manufacture, importation, and legal sale of all guns tomorrow, it would take 100 years before the supply started running low, by which time netnews would have long since published instructions for making a portable laser at home that was far more devastating than handguns! Sure, if you can't get guns, there might be fewer crimes committed with them. BUT YOU CAN GET THEM! You'll be able to for the forseeable future! I hate guns, I wouldn't own one, I wish they didn't exist! But, they are too easy to hide, too easy to make, and too popular in this culture to be gotten rid of. If you want to reduce handgun deaths, try another approach. Any really creative ideas out there, netters? Mike Gray, BTL, WH.