From: cdt@sw.stratus.com (C. D. Tavares)
Newsgroups: talk.politics.guns
Subject: Re: Policing Ourselves
Date: 20 Aug 92 19:03:59 GMT
Organization: Stratus Computer, Inc.

In article <20AUG199208485574@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov>, spzkny@lims01.lerc.nasa.gov (JAMES ZAKANY) writes:
> It's about responsibility.  I really don't 
> want the state to politicize my Constitutional rights, but those who assert 
> that guns should be left completely unregulated are, in my opinion, 
> irresponsible fools.  I am absolutely against waiting periods and 
> repetetive background checks (what's the point, folks?).  I am absolutely 
> FOR firearm training.
> 
> Those who carp that "Licensing => Gun Bans" are really ignoring the fact 
> that most people are fed up with firearm violence and will politically 
> support those who can do nothing but enforce regulations on law abiding gun 
> owners.  Those that rail against firearm regulation will be partially 
> responsible for the ownership restrictions that may come to pass.
> 
> I see nothing wrong with a gun safety program that issues a license that 
> certifies that the carrier is competent to operate a firearm!  In fact, I 
> see everything right with it.

A number of us agree with you in principle, but there are problems:

1) Agreeing that a license is necessary to exercise a constitutional
   right is tantamount to agreeing that the right is suddenly a privilege.
   Guaranteed, this capitulation will be cited by anyone who wants to
   impose ANY type of additional restrictions on the right in the future.

2) There are too many ways for governments (especially local governments)
   to manipulate licensing requirements and turn them into de facto bans.

   a) Chicago has a mandatory registration program in place, but will not 
      supply registration forms.

   b) Rhode Island used to demand attendance at a state-run course; then
      only held the course once per year and strictly limited attendance.

3) Competency testing is reasonable to address accidents, but will have no
   effect on criminal misuse.

4) There are currently more guns in American than cars.  However, licensed
   drivers, competency-tested by the state, have 50 times more accidents
   than gun owners.  The state may well be incompent to certify the 
   competence of others.

I live in a state that requires completion of a gun safety program before
one may purchase a handgun.  My police department told me that the one I 
took in 1988 was "too old," and I had to take a new one.  (I didn't realize 
guns has changed so much in four years.)  They also require three letters
of reference (try getting people to write letters).  As a result, I have
been working toward this permit for over four months now, and since the
next available safety course in my area runs from September to November,
it will be AT LEAST November before I get my license.

I keep hearing people ask on this group, "Why do you NEED a weapon?"  
Fuck-all Binky, it's a damn good thing I DON'T need one at the moment.  
Seven months.  I'd likely be dead.
-- 

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