From: PA146008@utkvm1.utk.edu (David Veal)
Subject: Re: position of pres. candidates
Organization: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Date: Thu, 8 Oct 1992 01:27:28 GMT

[The local server seems to have been mistaking outgoing posts for lunch,
and eating more than a few.  Hopefully, this isn't a repeat post...]

Sherry Day (SD) writes:
SD:Hi,  I have some questions about how the presidential candidates
SD:feel about gun control and what have they done about their beliefs,
SD:ie. support HCI, etc.
SD:
SD:Also, I read on this net that Clinton wanted to have a "secret police"
SD:Could someone please specify when he said this and to whom.  I work
SD:with someone who doesn't think this is true (also doesn't believe
SD:that Clinton is for gun control).  Her comment was "He lived in
SD:Nebraska where there are alot of hunters, how could he want gun
SD:control?"

     About "Secret Police," I have no reason to believe that Clinton
wants to add (ignoring what some people think we already have) any
sort of secret police.

     What he *has* called for is a 100,000 person "National Police
Corp." which would be either (And he doesn't seem to be too clear about
this) deployed to local police departments or the local police departments
would be given money for this special "corp."

     Now, I don't think Clinton has any dark motives for these police,
no matter how much I dislike him.  However, if you consider you'll now
have police officers doing the jobs of *state* and *local* police, but
dependent on the federal government for their paychecks, I think it's
disturbing, and ripe for abuse by either bureaucrats or a later, less
scrupulous administration.

     As for gun control, Clinton is unquestionably for it.  He supports
bans on semi-automatic "assault weapons" (which don't exist and aren't
a crime problem, but that's an argument for another thread) which have
"no legitimate hunting purpose" and has called for the passage of the
Brady Bill, which mandates a seven/five day waiting period (depending
on which version you're talking about.)

     Maybe you can argue this is "reasonable" gun control (and people do),
but it is unquestionably gun control.

SD:I would appreciate any replies. Is it me, am I the only one who is
SD:confused by what the candidates are saying.  I hear one thing then
SD:the opposite a few days later.  I hope I am not the only one that
SD:feels like a mushroom.

     To slide away from guns for a moment, see if you can catch Bill
Clinton talking to people who work for military contractors.  He's real
quick to play down any cuts to the military.  Then later he's calling for
big cuts.
     Not to leave Bush out, we know about his taxes and gun law promises.

SD:I firmly believe in the right to bear arms (or is it arm bears?). ;)

     I've never seen a bear who needed a gun.  I've also never seen abear
I was convinced a gun could kill...  :)

SD:I am getting tired of these anti-gun people telling me only criminals
SD:want guns and that I am a criminal for wanting a gun/owning a
SD:gun/believing I should be able to get a gun without any hassles.

     No, only violent people want guns.  They're just trying to protect
you from the evil vibes that will cause you to become a criminal in a
moment of uncontrollable anger.  You can't control yourself, you see,
and the government needs to do it for you.  :-(

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