From: lindq@etek.chalmers.se (Johan Lindqvist)
Newsgroups: alt.conspiracy,alt.activism,sci.skeptic,alt.politics.guns
Subject: Re: A racist argument against handgun control legislation.
Date: 13 Aug 92 12:33:41 GMT
Reply-To: lindq@etek.chalmers.se (Johan Lindqvist)
Organization: Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, SWEDEN

In article <5ggePB1w164w@incam.new-orleans.la.us>, rj@incam.new-orleans.la.us (Ray Jones) writes:
|> > In article <1992Aug10.132118.1693@etek.chalmers.se> lindq@etek.chalmers.se (J
|> > >In article <1992Aug6.180124.5853@oracle.us.oracle.com>, mfriedma@uucp (Micha
|>  
|> >>|>>If guns...not...wide spread, criminals would have a hard time getting
|> >>|>>them, and violent crimes would, hopefully, be reduced.
|> 
|> This argument has (IMO) little merit.  It is illegal to own, possess or
|> even carry drugs.  Perhaps, criminals have had a harder time getting the
|> drugs, but it certainly has not reduced (to any appreciable level) the
|> amount of drug use or crimes related to drugs.
|> 

Well, I can only compare between European countries. Here in Sweden we have
quite strict laws against drugs, which has lead to that, even you can get them,
it isn't that easy, which I think is one of the reasons we don't have so
much drug related problems here.
But if you let me compare with Amsterdam. So called 'soft drugs' are legal,
and no one could say that getting LSD, XTC or cocain is difficult.
(Do you think that A-dam is too drastic to be an example? But you claim
that laws to restrict something, doesn't mean that it will bw reduced.)



|> > >Whith fewer guns, crimes would be less violent. At least that's what I 
|> > >think. Do you agree on that?
|>  
|> If we could ensure that guns would (effectively) disappear, I might
|> be more inclined to agree. 

So, basically you agree with me.   :-)
I don't think you could turn back the clock to a time when (almost) no one
had guns. But for us Europeans, we could keep our restrictions against guns.
Well, taht's what I think, and it seen that you agree.



|> The United States was founded by an armed rebellion against its previous
|> government.  The "Founding Fathers" wanted to insure that a people
|> would always be able to rebel against an oppressive government & wrote
|> the Constitution in such a manner to make certain the people would
|> always have arms with which to revolt or to protect themselves against
|> outside invaders should the need arise.
|> 

Do you belive that a country attacking USA would be soo poorly equipped
that it couldn't handle people with handguns?
(Btw, what country would invade the US?  Canada? )


|> > >BUT if carrying a gun became illegal, police would be able to arrest
|> >>crinimals on...charge of carrying a gun before...got...chance to rob
|> > >anyone. 
|>  
|> To begin with, it is against our constitution to stop and search anyone
|> without probable cause.  

Seeing that someone carried a gun would be considered 'probable cause'

|> If the court feels the police had no good
|> reason to stop someone, then anything found as a result of that search
|> cannot be used as evidence against the person.
|> 

But it wouldn't be given back to him since it was illegal to possess, would it?



|> Secondly, even if the person was arrested in a legal manner and if
|> he was put in jail, he would (more than likely) be able to post his bail
|> in a couple of hours, get back on the street, buy another gun and 
|> continue his illegal activities while the policeman who arrested him was
|> still filling out the paperwork generated by his arrest.
|> 


So, what you're saying is :
The police shouldn't worry about robberies. Catching the criminal only causes
more problem than it solves ???????


______________________________________________________________________________
Johan Lindqvist                     |Due to lack of interest, tomorrow
Gothenburg         Mail:            |has been cancelled.
Sweden      lindq@etek.chalmers.se  |
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