From: veal@utkvm1.utk.edu (David L. Veal)
Subject: Re: democratic platform
Organization: University of Tennessee Division of Continuing Education
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 19:55:46 GMT

In article <1992Jul23.174742.4455@advtech.uswest.com> steven@jaynes ( Steve Novak) writes:

>> = (Phil Ngai) writes:
>>> = (Mark A Zabel) writes:
>>>> = ? (You'll have to ask Phil):

>>>>>    Firearms. We support a reasonable waiting period to permit
>>>>>background checks for purchases of handguns, as well as assault weapons

>>>It remains to be seen whether the limited restrictions mentioned in the
>>>platform above work.

>>Does this mean you have no problem with a mere 24-hour waiting period
>>before a woman could get an abortion?

>Apples and oranges being compared - and you know it full well, Ngai.

     Not apples and oranges.  Those abortion advocates I have spoken with 
say that they oppose waiting periods for two reasons.  First, because said 
waiting period does nothing but discourage women from having abortions.  And 
Second, because abortion is a right, and you can't have a right with "
restrictions."
  
     Are these not the same arguments gun-owners use?

>Waiting periods for purchasing firearms can help spot those with criminal
>records or mental problems, people I hope you agree shouldn't have guns. 
  
>Anybody that is so in a hurry to get a gun that they can't wait seven 
>goddam days is the EXACT person you don't want buying a gun immediately.

     This is incorrect.  There are plenty of "legitimate" reasons for 
wanting a gun now, not the least of which is "I want one."  Target shooters 
might need to replace damaged pistols on the eve of a competition match.  
Abused women might need protection from boyfriends or husbands.  
 
     But are you saying that the right to an abortion may not be restricted 
by a waiting period because such a restriction has no practical purpose, 
while the right to purchase a gun can be, *because* you see a practical 
purpose to it?  Is practicality the motivating force behind the exercising 
of our rights, now?
 
     A right, be it abortion or firearms, is a *right*.  You can't have 
"reasonable" restrictions, like waiting periods, on rights without violating 
them.
 
     A waiting period on abortions violates a woman's right to have an 
abortion.  A waiting period on guns violates the right to keep and bear arms.

>Forcing a woman to wait a "mere" 24 hours to get an abortion makes zero
>sense.  It's just something you control freaks are into.  She has done no
>wrong and is doing no wrong.  Who knows better than she if she wants an
>abortion?  Or gall bladder surgery?  Or a cap on her tooth?

     Let's look at it another way.  Waiting a day to get a firearm could be 
fatal, if you are in need of immediate protection.  Waiting a day for an 
abortion, assuming there is not a pressing medical danger, presents no 
danger to the woman.  Why then would a waiting period on purchasing a 
firearm be acceptable while one on abortion would no?

>Maybe you could clarify this left-field comparison of yours.

===========================================================================
|David Veal  PA146008@utkvm1.utk.edu  University of Tennessee             |  
|                                     Division of Continuing Education    |
| Statistics are any data which can be twisted to support your posititon  | 
===========================================================================

Newsgroups: alt.politics.clinton,talk.politics.guns,talk.abortion