From: nguyenpd@ntmtv.UUCP (Phat Nguyen)
Subject: Re:  A Japanese Student killed in Lousianna (Gun Control)
Originator: nguyenpd@nmtvs315
Reply-To: nguyenpd@ntmtv.UUCP (Phat Nguyen)
Organization: Northern Telecom Inc, Mountain View, CA
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 19:50:59 GMT

In Article <1992Nov06.120804.23396@watson.ibm.com> Michael Phelps
writes:
> a and b are New York state; to LEGALLY buy a handgun in NY state (excluding
> NY city) you must have a handgun permit as well as explicit permission from 
> your county sherriff.  
> To obtain a permit, you have to have 4 character references, a reason, pass a NY
> state background check, a federal (FBI) background check, and wait 3-6 months if
> everything is run according to the books.  If you live in NY city, its somewhere
> between difficult and impossible to obtain the special NY city permit.
> Each time you wish to obtain another handgun, you have to apply thru your home
> county's sherriff.  The end result is that you have a liscence for each and every
> handgun you own, with the serial number on that liscence.  
> The liscense can be revoked for virtually anything - a DWI will get it yanked so
> fast your head will spin.  Needless to say, not too many New Yorkers who legally
                             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> own handguns commit crimes (for 1 thing, the state has your fingerprints on file)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> To make it more convenient for criminals, the permit applications (complete with
> type, model and serial number of any handgun owned at the time and disposition)
> are available at your local NY county board of records.  I almost fell over when
> I saw that!

Exactly! not many people who legally own handguns commit crimes when
gun-control laws are tough.  However, you miss my point completely
when you think that I advocate another gun-control law for New York
city residents.  What I mean is that these laws don't prevent crimes
in New York city when guns can still be obtained so easily --
illegally of course (ILLEGALLY implies buying guns from other states
and abroad).

> c and d are felonies; it is against the law to purchase a handgun outside your
> state of residence.  

> e might allow you to obtain the firearm legally, but moving it from outside the
>US to inside is known as smuggling, and is quite illegal (like mondo felonies)

> The criminals, however, simply buy them illegally, even tho there are myriad laws
> against it.

Against the law doesn't imply that people won't do it.  They may
commit a "felony" just because they don't feel safe enough without
an "illegal" gun in their house.  Or they may buy and then resell
it for a profit.  Who know???  Tough gun control laws enable us to
feel more safe when we know that guns are in the hands of a right
person.

> Now, how do you think that YAL (yet another law) is going to fix this?  How many
> of the firearm related crimes in NY city are committed using a legally owned 
> firearm?  

Probably few!  But gun control in New York city alone doesn't work
and doesn't help when one can obtain it quite easily from other
sources -- of course.  You sound like if there exists a gun control
law in New York city.  Then everyone who comes into New York will
volunteerly drop his/her guns in the police department before
entering the city.  It doesn't work that way!!!!!  YAL in NEW YORK
CITY WILL NOT fix the problem.  But YAL in neighboring states and
perhaps for the whole U.S.A WILL.  It won't prevent other people
from WANTING a gun, but it helps to deter them from attainting
it -- ILLEGALLY of course.


Disclaimer:  All opinions are mine.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa