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- Xref: sparky sci.crypt:4686 comp.org.eff.talk:6975 alt.privacy:2222 talk.politics.guns:24055
- Path: sparky!uunet!ulowell!m2c!bu.edu!transfer.stratus.com!sw.stratus.com!cdt
- From: cdt@sw.stratus.com (C. D. Tavares)
- Newsgroups: sci.crypt,comp.org.eff.talk,alt.privacy,talk.politics.guns
- Subject: Re: Registering "Assault Keys"
- Message-ID: <1duio4INNpje@transfer.stratus.com>
- Date: 12 Nov 92 21:36:04 GMT
- References: <1992Nov8.030704.3898@netcom.com> <1794@rwing.UUCP> <1992Nov10.044148.22135@netcom.com> <1992Nov10.171546.19992@cci632.cci.com> <1992Nov12.071135.2216@netcom.com>
- Organization: Stratus Computer, Inc.
- Lines: 64
- NNTP-Posting-Host: rocket.sw.stratus.com
-
- In article <1992Nov12.071135.2216@netcom.com>, gurgle@netcom.com (Pete Gontier) writes:
- > sjo@cci632.cci.com (Steve Owens) writes:
-
- > An aside: why is it that terms like "law-abiding" creep into
- > these descriptions? Are criminals unable to derive the same
- > recreational satisfaction?
-
- It's a "technical term." The police abbreviate it to "LAC." It
- differentiates American citizens who are minding our own business,
- exercising our own rights, and not hurting anybody else, from criminals.
-
- It creeps into these discussions because gun owners tend to believe that
- there is no reason to prevent a law-abiding adult from owning an arm.
- As opposed, obviously, to a criminal, who has surrendered that right by
- his actions, or whose rights the government is allowed to suppress because
- of his crime (however you want to look at it).
-
- > >Since there is no evidence to support the claim that a ban would work,
- > >there is no reason to support such a ban.
- >
- > Name just about any country in the EC. Remember, we're talking
- > about kids finding Daddy's gun and shooting each other with it out
- > of ignorance. That's *all* I'm talking about.
-
- Oh. Is that all you're talking about? Then read on.
-
- Number of children under 5 who drown in swimming pools per year: 380+
-
- Number of children under five who die in residential fires caused by
- adults who fall asleep while smoking, per year: 432
-
- Number of children under 5 killed in gun accidents during 1984: 34 [Center for
- Disease Control]
-
- Number of children under 15 killed by handgun accidents per year: 50 to 55
-
- All data from the National Safety Council, except as noted.
-
- So you want to ban a country's worth of guns, leaving a lot of otherwise
- innocent people defenseless, for roughly one kid per state?
-
- > >If you realize a handgun ban doesn't address the problem, then
- > >for what reason do you support a handgun ban?
- >
- > A band-aid *does* address the problem. Just not very well.
-
- No, sorry. It hides the problem, it makes you think you're solving
- the problem. But the real problem -- violent crime -- is a sucking
- chest wound which tends to bleed through, and then there you are with
- that ugly, visible problem again.
-
- > >If you really want to solve the problem, try studying the problem
- > >and comming up with real solutions instead of supporting a band-aid that
- > >will only effect law-abiding citizens like you or me.
- >
- > I'm too cynical for that. Maybe when I have lots of money I'll
- > start thinking about solutions. For now, band-aids'll do fine.
-
- Here's some free advice. If you ever need a vasectomy, try not to
- let the doctor get away with just using a tight rubber band.
- --
-
- cdt@pdp.sw.stratus.com --If you believe that I speak for my company,
- OR cdt@vos.stratus.com write today for my special Investors' Packet...
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