From: amirza@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu (Anmar Caves)
Subject: Re: Dressed for Rape
Organization: Indiana University
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 1993 16:20:27 GMT

In article <9301092335.51@rmkhome.UUCP> rmkhome!rmk@merk.com (Rick Kelly) writes:
>
>Ok.  Citizens have a "right" to have guns.  Due to the current state of
>society, criminals can buy illegal guns any time they want.  Some states
>are enacting or have enacted laws that make it difficult to buy and carry
>a gun, but in these times it is more important than ever for honest
>citizens to have guns, because there are so many criminals getting illegal
>guns.

>What is actually being done to get rid of illegal guns?

Well, some folks are trying to enact laws against guns under the guise
that it will get rid of illegal guns.  This is flawed logic.  
Police tend to seize guns when they bust someone for another crime.
There are probably other action that I'm not being let in on, such as
planning for tracking how illegal guns enter the black market, etc.

>What percentage of illegal guns are stolen from homes in the first place?
>( When I'm away from home for a few days, my guns are locked up about as
>  well as can be expected. )

I don't have that statistic, maybe someone else will. I'd be suspect
of that statistic anyway, because it's very very difficult to build
statistics on illegal activities.  You can only build statistics on
*reported* or noticed illegal activity.  

>Lets here some ideas how states can get the revenue to build more prisons.

Maybe, instead of building more prisons, we should not put people in
prison for victimless crimes?

>And the bottom line, why did the states start backing off on easy ownership
>of guns?  Seriously.

Because it's a way of gaining control of a populace.  
It's an easy "feel good" stance for a politician to take, easier than
saying "I support undergoing serious evaluation as to why there is a
crime problem, and I recognize that we can't end crime, but if we can
reduce it without infringing on citizens rights then we'll do it."
Because most people don't pay attention to, or protect their rights,
especially the ones they don't use a lot.
Because this country hasn't been seriously invaded in a long time.
Because more and more of the voting populace live in cities where most
people rely on police to protect them, instead of relying on
themselves to protect themselves, unlike someone who live in the
country.  Then those same urban dwellers cry when the police don't
protect them, and they demand that something be done, instead of doing
what they should have done in the first place, defend themselves and
their neighbors.
Because the media has painted a portrait of firearms as Evil (tm), and
the majority of people will believe much of what they see on TV, or in
movies.  You doubt this, wait until some really popular movie, or TV
show comes out and notice how the new fads, or the new public opinions
tend to support the overall views of that movie, after it comes out.
There are more.

-- 
Anmar Mirza   # Chief of Tranquility  #My Opinions! NotIU's!#Purveyor of
EMT-D         # Base, Lawrence Co. IN # Legalize Explosives!#nontraditional
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