From: billn@hpcvaac.cv.hp.com (bill nelson)
Subject: Re: the US elections...
Organization: Hewlett-Packard Company, Corvallis, Oregon USA
Date: Sun, 8 Nov 1992 09:46:58 GMT

cortese@skid.ps.uci.edu (Janis Maria Cortese) writes:
: >
: >Why not? A so called "assault weapon" is no different than any other
: >firearm. It is no more accurate or lethal than any other.
: 
: Are you serious?  Something capable of killing many hundreds of poeple
: in seconds is equivalent to a revolver, which has to be reloaded after a
: mere five or six shots and has to be shot individually for each round?
: Do you class cherry bombs and H-weapons together, too?

Some of the so-called "assault weapons" hold no more than other rifles.
Nore are they any more accurate than any other rifle.

There is no "assault weapon" that is capable of killing "hundreds of
people in seconds". Not even dozens of people in seconds. However, you
can do so with a bottle of gasoline. And, you can guarantee the results.
With a rifle, killing is uncertain, unless you carefully aim all your
shots. The only advantage over a pistol or revolver is that it is more
accurate over long distances.

: >: why the gov't shouldn't check on you a little, or at least give you a
: >
: >The NRA has been proposing "instant checks" for years. Unfortunately, those
: >who want to take all firearms away from the law abiding citizens have fought
: >against such a check. They want to confiscate - not control.
: 
: NO ONE I've ever heard wants to "take anyone's guns away."  That is a
: stupid and sadly effective scare tactic used by the NRA to make their
: members paranoid.  Could it be because the NRA makes money off of such
: paranoia?  Naaaaaaah . . . 

Hm. You have not listened or read any of the material from HCI. I have
talked to spokespeople of the group, and that is exactly their intent.
I do not belong to the NRA, nor do I read their literature. I do not
agree with some of their tactics/methods.

: >: handling course.  Jesus, what do they make you go through when you buy a
: >: car, a mere device to haul your ass from point A to point B? 
: >
: >I am all for firearms training courses. I think all school children should
: >have to take a mandatory course. Maybe for the first time in about the 5th
: >or 6th grades, and again in high school.
: 
: I may disagree with how early they start, but haven't considered this
: enough to have a competant opinion.  I do agree that people should know
: what guns can and cannot do, though -- especially kids, who get most of
: their education about guns the same place they get their education about
: sex -- TV and movies.  Both forms of "education" are inadequate.

Yes - and, in most cases, highly incorrect.

: And, although I deleted it -- everyone does NOT have the "right" to take
: whatever drug they want WHEN THEY WANT.  If they are a switchman working
: for COnrail and I'm a train commuter, or I am a surgery patient and they
: are an anaesthesiologist, they do NOT have the dubious "right" to take
: what drugs they want.  You can do what you want IF YOU DO NOT ENDANGER
: OTHERS BY DOING SO.  I think you would also agree to this.

That is what I stated - if they do not endanger others. 

Bill