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From: jhull@spp2.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.rec
Subject: Re: Merry Christmas from the NRA
Message-ID: <354@spp2.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 9-Jan-85 21:43:46 EST
Article-I.D.: spp2.354
Posted: Wed Jan  9 21:43:46 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 13-Jan-85 06:38:35 EST
References: <2974@allegra.UUCP> <1912@sun.uucp> <297@desint.UUCP>
Reply-To: jhull@spp2.UUCP (Jeff Hull)
Organization: TRW, Redondo Beach  CA
Lines: 59
Xref: watmath net.politics:6777 net.rec:203
Summary: 

In article <297@desint.UUCP> geoff@desint.UUCP (Geoff Kuenning) writes:
>John D. McDonald said it best.  The difference between a handgun and a knife
>is that a handgun is impersonal.  To successfully murder with a knife, you
>have to come close enough to engage in a struggle (and usually do so), and
>most of the time you have to stab repeatedly to actually achieve a kill,
>despite the fact that blood is very likely gushing from the first wound.
>Not a project for the weak of stomach.
>
A point of view with which I agree completely.

>With a gun, on the other hand, you can be across the room.  A small sickly
>person can, in a moment of anger, snatch up a gun, point, squeeze, and fell
>a burly man.  The first shot is usually enough.  This is not at all the same
>thing.
>
Again, I agree.  I also know that a small sickly person can snatch up
a gun, point, squeeze, and fell a burly mugger/rapist/... 

>Another thing McDonald said:  "the only two things you can kill with a
>handgun are beer cans and people."  I have never heard that successfully
>refuted.  Handguns are good target weapons;  like anything they can be fun
>to collect.  They are not good for hunting.  
Please, let me be the first to refute it.  In 1977, I shot and killed
a 5 point buck deer with a Ruger Super Blackhawk, a .44 caliber,
single-action revolver.  It dressed out at somewhere around 100 pounds
and was subsequently eaten with great enjoyment.

>Oh, right, the burglar.  RRRRRIIIIIIGGGGGGHHHHHHTTTTTTT.  You're going to
>wake up in the middle of the night, rip that pistol out from under your
>pillow, and plug that sucker square between the eyes.  Starting from a sound
>sleep, and beating the guy to the draw.  RRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIGGGGGGGHHHHHHHTTTTTTT.
>If you're quick enough to beat the guy to the draw, I bet it turns out to be
>your brother on a surprise visit.  Any *really* dangerous intruder is going
>to be armed, cocked, and jumpy.
>
For anyone interested in protecting his life and the lives of his
family, I recommend a short-barrel 12 gauge shotgun, behind a simple
home security alarm system.  Total cost in the neighborhood of $400.
The alarm wakes you up, you get the shotgun, and, if the jerk hasn't
left, you have sufficient reason to believe he doesn't intend to, so
kill him.  I suggest #6 or #8 birdshot rather than anything heavier
because it won't penetrate walls and, therefore, isn't a danger to
your neighbors or family members.

>Royko's first prize went to a fellow who picked up his gun instead of the
>ringing phone, and shot himself in the ear.  That's the sort of thing sleepy
>people do.  
>	Geoff Kuenning

Yes, they do.  We all do stupid things occasionally and we all have to
pay, in one form or another, for our mistakes.  If I ever do something
like this, go ahead and laugh at me,  I'll deserve it.

-- 
					Blessed Be,

 					Jeff Hull
 ihnp4!trwrb!trwspp!spp2!jhull		13817 Yukon Ave.
					Hawthorne, CA 90250