From: ataylor@nmsu.edu (Nosy)
Subject: Re: Gun Control (was: Release from the Clinton Camp
Organization: NMSU Computer Science
	<1992Oct22.143719.5031@dg-rtp.dg.com>
	<1992Nov5.235237.22175@rock.concert.net>
	<1992Nov10.191218.13735@dg-rtp.dg.com> <lg2jhgINNpfm@spim.mti.sgi.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 21:53:11 GMT

<In article <lg2jhgINNpfm@spim.mti.sgi.com> mpolen@suntory.mti.sgi.com (Mike Polen) writes:
<   Bill Meyers) writes:
<   |> 
<   |> The NRA has roughly 3 million members, about the same as the AAA.
<   |> If Mothers Against Drunk Driving had chosen to advocate banning of
<   |> cheap, unsafe cars ("Saturday Night Specials"), automobile brokerage
<   |> services ("Mail Order Murder"), radar-absorbing auto body materials
<   |> ("Undetectable Plastic Cars"), heavy duty truck bumpers ("Cop-Killer
<   |> Pickups"), and sporty-looking ("Assault") cars with tailfins and
<   |> semi-automatic transmissions, the _members_ of the AAA would have
<   |> opposed some of that nonsense and the AAA would no doubt have had
<   |> to organize a lobbying division, as the NRA did about 1976.
<   |> 
 
	An excellent analogy.

<  I am sure that many of us can think of a long list of good things that
<   can be attributed to the automobile other than killing people when
<   driven by drunks.  Would you like to give us an idea of all of the
<   good things a gun provides?

	Certainly. People of all ages can improve their eye-
	hand coordination by shooting .22 rimfire handguns and
	rifles. Young people can go to the Olympics if they become
	good enough in rimfire and/or airgun competition. Firearms
	competition provide a sport in which men and women can 
	compete as equals. Decathalons provide a combination of
	running and shooting that is challenging to any athlete.
	Possession of (and skill in using) a firearm provides a
	means of personal protection for persons of all ages
	and physical condition; it gives a physically handicapped
	person a means of self defense that cannot be obtained
	any other way.

	And there are other benefits as well..

<   Also, we already require testing, licensing, minimum physical and mental
<   skills, and a waiting period (in some states) to drive a car (try
<   getting an instant appointment).  
	
	Is Polen endorsing the concept that a single mother should
	be able to carry her revolver with her on a cross country
	trip to Washington, DC?

	Or is Polen simply not aware of the vast differences between
	firearms law and motor vehicle law?

	And where in the US must a driver wait for some government-
	mandated period of time before driving a car, please?
	How is this enforced? Do government agents take car keys
	away from drivers as they exit their vehicles, or what?
	
<It is also illegal to drive a car that
<   doesn't meet strict safety and power rules.  

	Hardly; the 1926 Model T is still street-legal.


<The NRA considers all these
<   to be unnacceptable conditions for gun buyers.  

	Can Polen cite the specific NRA policy which he is
	opposing?

<   Is this your idea of an anology?
 
	It is an excellent analogy.
Xref: sparky talk.politics.misc:60392 alt.rush-limbaugh:9805 talk.rumors:1306 alt.activism:18872 alt.politics.elections:23924