shallit@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP (Jeff Shallit) (01/03/85)
>> When are we going to get national handgun control? >> -- Jeff Shallit (shallit@gargoyle) > >Probably never. There is a very large group of people who are very >determined to hold onto their rifles, shotguns, and handguns. They will >continue to oppose all handgun control laws -- even the mild ones, like >registration -- because they believe that these are intended as a first >step towards disarming them completely. > >It's easy to see why they believe this. They listen to the handgun control >proponents. Most of these people talk about *control*, but it is clear >that what they want is a handgun *ban*. Some go further, talking about >how we should "melt all the guns," take away shotguns and rifles, trust the >police to protect us, and live together in peace and harmony. > >I belive that firearm ownership should be regulated; after all, guns are >nearly as dangerous as motor vehicles, and we require testing and licensing >for these. I believe that the gun owners would consent to these laws if >they thought the purpose was regulation and not a ban. I believe that >without the consent of the gun owners, gun control laws will never be >passed and enforced. I find it ironic that each time Jeff screams about >the need for gun "control" he reduces the chance of any change. > >Scott Renner So, in other words, if I am for gun control, I should just keep my mouth shut and hope that eventually some legislation gets enacted...by magic? What nonsense! I have heard all this garbage before, when I was working for Proposition 15 in California. Sometimes it amazes me that all the gun nuts use the same lines of argument. This is the "what they REALLY want is to ban ALL guns, including rifles" argument. Try reading the official statement of Handgun Control, Inc. It's been the same for 15 years: to pass federal law for 1) a waiting period and background check on handgun purchasers; 2) a ban on production and sale of "Saturday Night Specials"--the cheap, inaccurate, easily concealable guns that are the choice of criminals; 3) mandatory sentences for using a gun in a crime; 4) mandatory handgun safety-training programs for handgun purchasers; and 5) tighter requirements for handgun dealers and manufacturers. The fact is that the public WANTS handgun control. The NRA doesn't--they even removed their support for a ban on the cop-killer, armor-piercing bullets. And they've got the money and the lobby in Washington to work for their side. Handgun control WORKS--as evidenced by hard statistics in Massachusetts. Institution of handgun control does NOT necessarily lead to regulation of other types of guns--look at Canada, Switzerland, Sweden, and Australia. /Jeff Shallit