Date sent: Sat, 29 May 1999 07:47:36 -0500 To: extropians@extropy.com From: Chuck kuecker <ckuecker@mcs.net> Subject: Re: Guns and Slaves Send reply to: extropians@extropy.com
> At 09:40 PM 5/28/99 -0500, you wrote:
> >"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.
> >
>
> We could also just enforce the existing laws. Theft is illegal already, as
> is supplying a gun to a convicted felon, etc, etc. The black market is
> already here - in Chicago a police officer was recently indicted for
> gunrunning to the gangs.
>
> >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
> >
>
> I am quite pessimistic on this - having witnessed the many slippery slopes
> we have slid down in the past, I expect this newest bout of 'gun control'
> to be no different. No individual can do anything about it that would be
> productive, but possibly enough of us together can. That's why I support
> the Libertarian party. At least I am trying to change things from within
> the system. I also have joined the NRA and the Illinois Rifle Association,
> primarily to get a better deel for what the true 'gun nuts' are doing, and
> to register my support for SOME of their programs.
>
> I do not agree with all the NRA's positions, but like the Libertarians,
> they stand for many of my own ideals.
>
> Chuck Kuecker
>
I hope that you both support their reasonable positions and oppose
their unreasonable ones from inside.
>