Date sent: Wed, 15 Mar 2000 09:10:29 -0800 (PST)
From: Lee Daniel Crocker <lee@piclab.com>
To: extropians@extropy.com
Subject: Re: [GUNS\ Re: g*n c*ntr*l
Send reply to: extropians@extropy.com
> > 1) It is illegal for the mentally incompetent to own or possess
> > firearms.
> >
> > 2) It is illegal for a convicted felon to own or possess a firearm.
> >
> > Neither myself, nor any other gun owner on this list, nor the NRA,
> > has ever suggested that these laws be changed, in fact we insist
> > they be enforced.
>
> To be fair, I have indeed argued against some of these things:
> specifically the appropriate criteria for "insanity" or "incompetence"
> that would render firearm posession unsafe and who would apply those
> criteria are unclear. And I absolutely _do_ support the right of
> convicted felons (especially those whose crimes did not involve the
> discharging of a firearm--why fear an armed pot dealer/tax cheat?) to
> have _all_ their civil rights restored after they have served their
> time. If it is felt that a particular released violent felon should
> not be granted this right, he should be classified in category (1).
>
I like the ring of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness", but one
of the basic freedoms which we must enjoy in order to pursue our
happiness is freedom from fear, and if our lives are lost, liberty is
lost with them. There are two, complementary, not oppositional,
ways to maximize freedom from fear of gun violence and protect
life; 1) do not interfere with (and in fact expedite) the exercise of the
right to purchase, own, possess and carry firearms by responsible
and benevolent adults, and 2) make it as difficult as possible for the
irresponsible, the malevolent and children to do the same. We and
our families are safest when the former are armed and the latter are
not.
> --
> Lee Daniel Crocker <lee@piclab.com> <http://www.piclab.com/lcrocker.html>
> "All inventions or works of authorship original to me, herein and past,
> are placed irrevocably in the public domain, and may be used or modified
> for any purpose, without permission, attribution, or notification."--LDC
>
>
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