Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site denelvx.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!whuxlm!harpo!decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!think!harvard!seismo!hao!denelcor!denelvx!gmack
From: gmack@denelvx.UUCP (Gregg Mackenzie)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: rape and firearms
Message-ID: <79@denelvx.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 2-Jul-85 05:35:13 EDT
Article-I.D.: denelvx.79
Posted: Tue Jul  2 05:35:13 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 5-Jul-85 04:26:36 EDT
References: <191@cuuxa.UUCP> <2919@sdcc3.UUCP> <2301@sun.uucp> <257@kontron.UUCP> <2568@randvax.UUCP> <285@kontron.UUCP> <185@ihlpl.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Denelcor, Aurora, Colorados
Lines: 53

Jeanette, in <185@ihlpl.UUCP> you write:
> > Rape and other violent crimes are deterred almost daily in this country
> > by the use of firearms; news accounts of such actions are quite common.
> 
> There are also accounts in the news as often of people being wounded or
> killed by their own weapons which were takenfrom them by their attacker
> [and some other stuff]. 

This, along with your next comments, indicates that you do not approve of the
use of firearms.  Yet, you closed 184@ihlpl.UUCP with a little sign that says
"To hell with the dog, watch out for the owner."  This sign usually has a
sketch on it which looks down the barrel of a large gun.  Mine does, anyway.
(The other one I have has the same sketch and says "There is nothing in here
worth your life.)  

Just for the record, I believe that noone has any business carrying any
weapons unless they are prepared to use them - mentally and physically.  Not
being mentally prepared nearly cost me my own life a few years ago.    

I was putting myself through school working in a restaurant on the opening
shift.  One morning before we opened, I was in the back, unaware that a 
robbery was taking place in the front.  One of the robbers came into the 
back and we startled each other.  He had a knife and my first reaction was
to grab the butcher knife that was laying on the bench.  I was going to run
it through him, but I wasn't mentally prepared and I hesitated.  When I did,
he stabbed me in the stomach, knocked me down, and he and his buddy proceeded
to kick me in the head and stomach.  My ears rang for days.  They talked
briefly about shooting me but decided to just get the money and get out.
They were never caught.  All this over less than $500!

The point is, if you carry a weapon, you'd better be prepared to actually
kill someone with it.  In your home, a scatter gun is best because you don't
have to aim it, you just point it in the general direction of your target.
Also, trying to just wound your assailant won't cut it.  You have to kill
him.  I was bloody and beaten and was still able to get up and call the
cops.

> As nearly as I can determine in real-time conversations  (face to face)
> with many different people the general type of individual who makes the above
> statements falls into one of two groups:
> 
> 	1) A devout member of the NRA complete with pro-firearms
> 	bumper stickers.

What's wrong with that?

> 	2) Someone who has not given thought to the "wild-west theory"
> 	of social relationships.

I apologize for my ignorance, but what's the "wild-west theory"?

Gregg Mackenzie
denelcor!gmack