From: Steve Tucker (stevet@megsinet.net)
Date: Fri May 28 1999 - 20:40:35 MDT
"Joe E. Dees" wrote:
> I have advocated denying gun ownership to (once
> again, and am prepared to say 1000 times more) violent criminals,
> the mentally deficient and/or deranged, spouse and/or child
> abusers, and children.
This seems also a list of those most likely to disregard whatever laws may stand
between them and their goals. It may have the effect of forcing them to obtain
their guns from the black market or through theft; perhaps the stupidest ones
would be caught in the attempt.
Don't get me wrong, I don't wish to see those prone to initiating violence heavily
armed, but then neither do I wish to see them roaming at large, armed or not (if
we have to discuss whether they should be armed we have already arrived at the
wrong question). I am concerned, however, with what the political process may do
to us in process of turning your "common sense" into the usual incomprehensible
mish-mash. Politicians seem generally not nearly as concerned with the probable
outcomes of their actions as they are with being seen "taking action", which IMHO
is what is driving the recent spurt of gun-banning proposals. Since their general
response to failure is to keep doing whatever produced the failure, but harder
(ref: War On Some Drugs, gov't schools, public housing, welfare, etc etc), I do
believe the "slippery slope" is a real concern.
- Steve
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