shallit@gargoyle.UChicago.UUCP (Jeff Shallit) (01/01/85)
I just heard on the news that in the past 12 hours there were three handgun deaths in Chicago. In the most tragic incident, a six-year-old boy was shot to death by his eight-year-old cousin. When are we going to get national handgun control? /Jeff Shallit University of Chicago
renner@uiucdcs.UUCP (01/03/85)
> I just heard on the news that in the past 12 hours there were three > handgun deaths in Chicago. In the most tragic incident, a six-year-old > boy was shot to death by his eight-year-old cousin. > > 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 {ihnp4,pur-ee}!uiucdcs!renner