Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site cmu-cs-edu1.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!cbdkc1!desoto!packard!hoxna!houxm!mtuxo!mtunh!mtung!mtunf!ariel!vax135!timeinc!phri!pesnta!amd!vecpyr!lll-crg!gymble!umcp-cs!seismo!rochester!cmu-cs-pt!cmu-cs-edu1!rafferty From: rafferty@cmu-cs-edu1.ARPA (Colin Rafferty) Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Re: The right to be a lethal danger Message-ID: <390@cmu-cs-edu1.ARPA> Date: Sat, 29-Jun-85 20:33:52 EDT Article-I.D.: cmu-cs-e.390 Posted: Sat Jun 29 20:33:52 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 2-Jul-85 06:20:42 EDT Organization: Carnegie-Mellon University, CS/RI Lines: 52 >>> I might own a gun because I don't enjoy having my home robbed by nasty >>> burglars. If you can't realise that there are reasonable uses for a gun, >>> ..... >>> then you have your >>> head so far up that you can't even see daylight. > >>> Just because you're too stupid to see reasonable uses for guns doesn't mean >>> that there aren't any. >>> ..... >>> but I'd like to >>> see you tell me that you wouldn't like to have a gun when some sicko tries >>> to violate your eleven month daughter. > > "Reasonable" uses like blasting away in a fit of parental rage, executing > the death penalty for a crime which the law holds to be non-capital. > > YOU have your head so far up your own beloved ass you can't see reason for > shit. YOU may advocate the death penalty for child molestation, but until > the law ratifies your opinion you have no right to take it in your own > hands. Seems to me that if someone is going to kill me, or a person near and dear to me, I have the right, and obligation to protect myself and my loved ones. In the example I gave, it is very possible that the sicko is going to blow away the child after s/he is through with her. The burglar prowling in your house: is that your silverware in his hand, or a gun? If you assume it's a gun, you stay alive no matter what. Assume the best, and you'll get the worst. > Choose a nice, emotive example to support your obsession with self-imposed > terminal punishment. It's buffoons like you that eventually crack and start > blasting innocent people over some neurotic grudge. Sure, I'd probably LOVE > to be holding a gun if anyone tried to violate my infant - and that's > exactly why I shouldn't have one. > > Charlie @ the Death Star, IL. I chose an example like that because it would make a point. I don't think I'm being neurotic, just realistic. There are people out there who would think nothing of blowing you or me away for some drug money, and we have to realise that. One more thing, I don't own a gun, I just don't think that you can say that I shouldn't. ---- Colin Rafferty { Math Department, Carnegie-Mellon University } "... N.R.A. hunters, who drink beer, don't vote, and lie to their wives about where they were all last weekend." -Governor Mario Cuomo (NY-D)