From: shaffer@achilles.ctd.anl.gov (Michael A. Shaffer)
Subject: Re: For gun control? No not really.
Organization: Argonne National Laboratory
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 22 Dec 1992 19:35:18 GMT

In article <MERRITT.92Dec22092527@macro.bu.edu>, merritt@macro.bu.edu (Sean Merritt) writes:
|> In article <1992Dec18.203300.29575@CSD-NewsHost.Stanford.EDU> andy@SAIL.Stanford.EDU (Andy Freeman) writes:
|> 
|>    In article <105170@bu.edu> merritt@macro.bu.edu (Sean Merritt) writes:
|>    >If we do not limit availabilty than I must assume it
|>    >remains as easy for any person as it was for Wayne
|>    >to get his gun. Being only 18 he would have had more
|>    >trouble getting a six pack.
|> 
|> &   Not close.  Then again, I note that coke is rather easy to get despite
|> &   the legal restrictions, so ....
|> 
|> So what? When was the last time someone use "coke" as a high speed
|> projectile to kill someone? What's your point?

I think the point was that "controlling" guns will probably be at best
as succesful as controlling drugs. Probably less so since guns are
durable goods.

|> 
|>    >My position then is I shall arm myself.
|> 
|> &   Go for it.
|> 
|> I am certainly considering it. What type of gun should I buy?

Well first you ought to learn a little bit about guns, their use,
their effectiveness etc. At that point you would be equipt to
analyze your needs and desires. I suggest getting a one year trial
membership in the NRA or if that doesn't suit your politics start
picking up a few gun mags at the store. Check out some of the pistol
ranges. Many offer courses in firearms saftey and control (i.e. hitting
your target and nothing else).

BTW. You should not buy a gun strickly out of fear. You should make
it a reasoned decision based on knowledge.

|> 
|> &   Merritt apparently believes that disarming him can provide benefits.
|> &   He's wrong.  (Disarming him at best is a no-op and won't disarm anyone
|> &   who is worth disarming.)  He thinks we should be shocked by the
|> &   possibility that he might have several guns.  If he's like the rest of
|> &   us, there's no risk.  Should we jail him so that we won't be
|> &   "shocked"?
|> 
|> I believe that the proability of being shot is too high. There must
|> be an environmental change;
|> 
|> 1) restrict gun availability

Ineffective.

|> 
|> 2) restrict ammunition availabilty

Ineffective.

|> 
|> 3) allow people to create communities where the *can* control
|>    guns and their use.

I am not sure what you mean. Do you mean something like Nazi Germany?

|> 
|> I don't intend to shock anyone. If the creation of autonomous
|> Anarcho-Capitalist zones shocks you, sorry. Jail me? Because

I don't understand. How is Anarchism (I assume that is what the
Anarcho refers to) compatible with Government controls?

|> I'm niether a Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal?
|> I am a Anarcho-Capitalist that believes Social Engineering is

Isn't social engineering incompatible with anarchism. I would agree
that social engineering is possible. It has been going on in the
USSA for quite some time. I do not however think that it is desirable.

|> possible. Or is my crime that I find the present proabilities
|> of being murdered with a gun unacceptably high. Your stance is

You would prefer to be murdered with something else?

|> to compel me to gamble with my life. I but no such impositions

You don't have to gamble with your life. Join us in pushing for
really effective anti crime measures.

|> on you. Infact all I ask is to join with others who think as
|> I do and create a sane and safe enviromnet.

I that so called safe and sane environment includes disarming me
you can look for another sheep to shear thankyou.

|> 
|> -sjm
|> 
|> --
|> Sean J. Merritt		         | "Every revolt is a cry of innocence    
|> Dept of Physics Boston University|  and an appeal to the essence of being."
|> merritt@macro.bu.edu             | Albert Camus, The Rebel

				mike

Oh. BTW if you want to decrease your chances of being murdered with
anything I suggest you move to a state where there is less gun control.
You will then reap the benefits of the resulting lower crime rates.
Newsgroups: talk.politics.guns