From: PA146008@utkvm1.utk.edu (David Veal)
Subject: Re: A Japanese student killed in Lousiana
Organization: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 15:40:11 GMT

In article <Bx81r9.HI9@ncifcrf.gov>
masuda@fcs280b.ncifcrf.gov (Michiaki Masuda) writes:

>In article <Bx7C4G.2Hx@usenet.ucs.indiana.edu> amirza@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu (Amar Caves) writes:
>>In article <Bx6rqE.LF6@ncifcrf.gov> masuda@fcs280b.ncifcrf.gov (Michiaki Masud) writes:
>
>>>   Even if it's true that the number is not large, those cases are still a
>>>tragedy. If there's a way to decrease the number, wouldn't it be
>>>reasonable to go for it?
>
>>Not if it means giving up my right to protect myself from criminals,
>>or a tyrannical govt.
>
>  Does it mean, "Not if I have to give up my weapon"? If you are found
>to be skillful enough to handle the weapon properly, you wouldn't have to
>give it up. However, if it turns out that you cannot use it appropriately,
>and you still stick to your weapon, that could be an invasion of other
>people's right.

       Let me raise the evil specter of literacy tests for a moment.  You
know, those fair little things where they flunked the PhDs and the illiterate
alike as long as they were black?
       But that sort of thing would never happen with this, would it.
There wouldn't be a single police chief that refused to make forms avaialable
to apply for classes.  There wouldn't be a single city that refused to
hold classes, or that only held small ones once or twice a year.  Not
anyone who would arbitrarily flunk everyone or refuse to accept
applications or registrations.
       The great thing is we don't have to imagine any of this.  It's
happened and is still happening.
       And we're supposed to accept the government and the police will
make these decisions fairly and without bias of an agenda to prevent people
from buying guns?  How, when so many have shown they most certainly
won't?

>>  Many gun owners I know practice responsible gun
>>handling, and among those that do have damn few accidents.
>
>  Surprising. Even those who have a good skill and knowledge could cause
>accidents. Imagine those who do not.

     Well, as has been pointed out, accidents are small and continue
to decline as per a twenty year trend.

>>  A class,
>>especially a forced class, will not teach respect and caution.  That
>>has to come from within.  Once a person has the willingness to learn,
>>then you can teach them respect and caution.
>
>   A class will teach respect and caution at least to those who have a
>sensitivity to those lessons. Or are there no Americans who have that
>kind of moral receptor?

       A properly run class, would.  What before I lend my support to
such a measure, what assurance do I have it *will* be properly run, when
so many haven't been?

>   "Karate" can kill people. There was a graduate student in my friend's
>lab. The guy was a good karate practician -- I mean, VERY good. He
>has never drunk alcohol even at a party or other socializing occasions.
>My friend once asked him why he didn't drink. He answered, "I could kill
>someone with this (showing his fist) if I'm drunk and I cannot control
>its power." Yes, I agree that a spontaneous inner motivation towards respect
>and caution is important.

       Those who I know who own guns and drink never go anywhere near their
guns when they've had a drink.  Alcohol and gunpowder don't mix.

>>  There is one way to
>>decrease those numbers.  Make the penalties for irresponsible use
>>fairly high, and *enforce* them.  Don't punish someone beforehand.
>
>  I don't think that there are so many people who are feeling that the
>examination for a driver's license is a punishment.

       Nobody has suggested licensing driver's as a way to reduce the
number of cars on the road.  It *has* been suggested as a way to
reduce the number of guns bought.  No area has used its driving
license system to systematically exclude drivers like they have
gun classes.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
David Veal     Division of Continuing Education Information Services Group
               University of Tennessee, Knoxville
               PA146008@utkvm1.utk.edu
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