From: mjp@austin.ibm.com (Michael Phelps)
Subject: Re: Japanese exchange student killed in Louisiana...
Originator: mjp@bwa.kgn.ibm.com
Date: Fri, 06 Nov 92 12:25:07 GMT
Reply-To: mjp@vnet.ibm.com (Michael J. Phelps)
Organization: IBM Kingston NY


In article <BxA08z.LIJ@ncifcrf.gov>, masuda@fcs280b.ncifcrf.gov (Michiaki Masuda) writes:
|> In article <1992Nov05.132009.33410@watson.ibm.com> mjp@vnet.ibm.com (Michael J. Phelps) writes:
|> >
|> >In article <Bx8224.HMG@ncifcrf.gov>, masuda@fcs280b.ncifcrf.gov (Michiaki Masuda) writes:
|> >|> In article <1992Nov4.185308.8461@blaze.cs.jhu.edu> arromdee@jyusenkyou.cs.jhu.edu (Ken Arromdee) writes:
|> >|> >In article <Bx6oH8.IFM@ncifcrf.gov> masuda@fcs280b.ncifcrf.gov (Michiaki Masuda) writes:
|> >|> >>   It is illegal to drive a car without a license. ...
|> >|> >
|> >|> >It's only illegal to drive it without a license if you are on public property.
|> >|> 
|> >|>   Can you run over someone in the next door when you are driving in your 
|> >|> private property?
|> >
|> >Yes, you can.
|> >
|> >|>   Can you shoot someone in the next door when you are handling your gun in your
|> >|> private property?
|> >
|> >Yes, but only after violating several of the most basic firearm safety rules.
|> 
|> >So whats the point?
|> 
|>    I'm afraid that I picked a wrong example, which led to your confusion.
|> Please raplace "next door" with "city park behind your house."

Same answer as before, its possible.

|> 
|>    In most cases, a car can kill/injure people only at the same place where it
|> exists.
|> 
|>    On the other hand, a firearm can kill someone distant from the weapon.
|> 
|>    In other words, as long as someone drives a car in the private property,
|> he/she cannot run over someone in the public property. Once he/she drives into
|> a public property without a license, it would be illegal.

but that doesn't actually force the car to stop.  One of my parent's neighbors 
kids got into a car, and managed to get it rolling.  It went off their property,
and ended up across the street (public property) onto someone else's property, 
where it ended up.  The hand of god didn't stop it from rolling simply because
they didn't have a license.

|> 
|>    It is possible for someone to shoot another in the public property
|> from his/her private property either intentionally or accidentally. 

There are 2 cases here:  intentionally shooting someone (on private property
or not) is illegal, except in the case of self defense (see your penal codes
for detail).  In NY, that means that a reasonable person in the same situation
would have reason to fear for their lives, basically.  
That leaves accidents, or in most cases, stupid actions (violating simple firearms
safety rules).  There are about 1400 accidental deaths per year in the US due to
firearms, and about 200 million firearms.  The situation you've contrived would
only be a portion of the 1400 deaths.  Simply put, if you are going to wait in a
city park for someone to accidently shoot you from their private property, ya 
best bring a big lunch and a blanket - you'll be there for a while.

|> 
|>    Driving a car requires a license at least for using it in the public
|> place. Possession of firearms doesn't require a training nor a license
|> wherever you may use it.
|> 
|> Michiaki Masuda

-- 
Michael Phelps, (external) mjp@vnet.ibm.com ..
                (internal) mjp@bwa.kgn.ibm.com .. mjp at kgnvmy         
 (and last but not least a disclaimer)  These opinions are mine..