From: toms@schunix.uucp (Tom Swenson)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.guns
Subject: Re: Lawrence Mass.
Date: 24 Dec 92 05:16:45 GMT
Organization: SCHUNIX Public Access Unix for Worcester County, MA, USA
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Sean J. Merritt writes>

>I must admit that the anti-gun control people have pointed out 
>flaws that I had not considered with restriction of availabilty
>of firearms and ammunition. I do however feel that mail order
>ammo is ridiculous.

A ban on mail order ammunition is useless.  I manufacture ammo
in my basement with a few simple tools.  Many other recreational
shooters make thier own ammo in order to save money.  It wouldn't
be very difficult for enterprising young thugs to set up
underground ammo factories.

>Guns are not the only weapons that kill. 2 men have been killed
>in the greater Boston area in the past month in traffic 
>disputes where someone pulled a knife. 6 people have been
>killed with guns in ambush style attacks with guns.
>No g
uns are not the only weapons out there, but they
>are by far the weapon of choice with criminals.

The problem is behavior -- not hardware.  If God came down out
of the heavans and destroyed every weapon on the face of the Earth,
men would kill each other with bare hands.
 
Also consider the fact that guns are also the weapon of choice for
honest law-abiding people who wish to defend themselves.
 
>Still,being more Anarchist/Libertarian minded, goverment controls 
>of any kind are diststaful to me.

>So that leaves me with the Anarcho-Capitalist Enclave.
>A place where you can lower probabilities of crime.

Anarchy is not desirable either.  Ask the folks in Somolia.

>Consider what the Police in Lawrence Mass are doing now:

>In a for 4 block area known for drug dealing and prostitution
>they have "sealed off" the area. Residents are given "passes".
>There are checkpoints where the police will ask to yo
ur
>license and registartion, they give you a card explaining why
>you were stopped and they record your licence plate number.

This is scary!!  I'm not a lawyer but it sounds to me like a
blatent violation of the 4th amendment.   The very idea that one
must have a pass to travel on a public street with out harassment
from the police, smacks of Fascism.
 
>The first effect is on Suburbanites who come into the 
>city to buy drugs or sex. Not activities you want veiwed
>in the harsh light of day. The second is that the high visibilty
>of the police has also reduced the number of people loiterin
g
>(of which might be drug dealers and prostitutes).
>It seems to be working. Streets where children dared not play
>or old people dare not venture are now safe.

I'll bet my last dime that the drug dealers and prostitutes simply
found another place to ply thier trades.  After a while the police
will move on too.  Gradually the neighborhood will revert back to
it's original sorry state.  The residents of the neighborhood have
exchanged thier rights for a false sense of security.  Benjamin
Franklin said, "They that can give up essential liberty to obtain
a little temporary safety deserves neither liberty nor safety."

>It may not last:
>The ACLU is taking legal action against the Lawrence Police.

Thank God.  Although I disagree with the ACLU on many  issues, I'm
pleased to see that they are fighting this one.
 
Tom Swenson
toms@schunix.uucp
 
Freedom of the press is great -- If YOU own the press.
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Newsgroups: talk.politics.guns