From: amirza@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu (Anmar Caves)
Subject: Re: Have you heard of the Religious Left?
Organization: Indiana University
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 21:03:19 GMT

In article <Sep.24.10.42.23.1992.24186@gandalf.rutgers.edu> shagan@gandalf.rutgers.edu (Susan Hagan) writes:
>robert@isgtec.com (Robert Osborne) writes:
>
>>williams@herky.cs.uiowa.edu (Kent Williams) writes:
>
>>I feel safer carrying a gun.  Who wouldn't?  A gun can't twist around
>>in you hand and shoot you and you can use it to protect yourself.
>
>I wouldn't.  It can be taken away from you and used against you.

Which is why you should A) Always carry a back up, and B) Practice
weapons retention.

>>How would you feel carrying a gun?
>
>Terrified.

Then don't carry one.  Simple.  It is your free choice to what degree
you are willing to defend yourself.

Interesting aside,  I was teaching a lady friend proper gun handling
and how to shoot yesterday.  She took the responsibilty very
seriously, and paid close attention to what I was teaching her.  
This lady is a smallish, quiet person, someone who you would never
expect to demonstrate any aggression.  Later we were talking about the
relative merits of where we live compared to where she used to live
(Chicago).  She was telling me about how she would drive when she
lived there, very aggresive, and fast.  Now,  I would (and did) trust
this lady with a gun, but frankly, her driving scares me (and I worked
ambulance for several years)!
>
>I'm not saying that people shouldn't carry them.  Banning guns only takes
>them out of the hands of law-abiding citizens while leaving them defenseless
>against criminals who do have these things.  However, restrictions should

Thank you.  A statement that respect anothers right to self-defense.

>be enforced.  I support a waiting period.  Not only to allow a check on 
>the purchaser's credentials, but to ensure that this purchase is not 
>emotionally motivated.

These things already exist.


>>If your friend had been killed in a stampede because someone shouted
>>'fire' in a crowded theatre would you be fighting free speech or
>>calling for a ban on movie theatres?
>
>He probably would.  Most people react this way when something unforseen
>and uncontrollable takes away a loved one.  They have to try and do 
>something about what has happened, even though nothing can really be done.
>Its a natural reaction and its part of the grieving process.

This is true to my experience with working with victims of traumatic
incidents. 

>Don't beat him up too much about it.  
>

Ah, now here's where I disagree.  Just because someone is going
through an emotional experience is not reason enough for me to stand
by and let them hurt another.  Denying anothers right to self-defense
makes one responsible for their safety, and  as someone who has other
peoples lives entrusted in my care I know how difficult a task it can
be to ensure anothers safety.  

-- 
Anmar Mirza   # Mayor of Dogspit, IN  #My Opinions! NotIU's! #Purveyor of
EMT-D         # Located somewhere in  # Legalize Explosives! #nontraditional
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