[EMAIL PROTECTED] (William J. Foristal) writes:
HI Sue,
I agree, a total ban on gun ownership would be unfeasible no matter what
anyone thinks about the issue. But I DO think that a gun owner who fails
to take ANY precautions against guns being stolen should be prosecuted
for a crime when the guns ARE stolen and used in a crime or become
involved in an accidental shooting.
The problem is in enforcing a law that makes exceptions for those who DO
try to safeguard their guns from being stolen.
Your feelings about using a gun for protection are very well founded.
Except for a few anecdotal stories about the good guy defending against
the bad guy, many more cases of the good guy getttng injured or killed,
or injuring/killing an innocent person can be found.
I was glad to see Clinton expand the ban on imports of assault weapons.
The importers had been modifying them to appear as "sport" weapons to
slip through a loophole in the ban.
And I still think more has to be done to curtail the number of guns in
our society. While a total ban would not be feasible I still think
stricter controls and heavier sentences for crimes committed with guns
would help. Also, what would be wrong with destroying a gun used in a
crime after the criminal has been convicted and sentenced?
Bill
On Sun, 05 Apr 1998 13:54:43 -0700 Sue Hartigan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
writes:
>Sue Hartigan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>
>
>Hi Bill:
>
>I don't think getting a gun stolen would come under irresponsible
>ownership. But I do think that they should make it some kind of a
>fine
>or something along those lines if your gun is stolen and it wasn't
>registered. That way at least there would be a chance of identifying
>it
>if it was found.
>
>Personally I have no use for firearms. I do know how to use them but
>would be afraid that if I had one the bad guy might get it away from
>me,
>and use it on me himself. Or I might mistake one of the kids or
>someone
>who came in late, unexpectedly, and shoot them, or one of my
>grandchildren might get it, etc. What would probably happen is that I
>would end up shooting myself in the foot or something.
>
>We have guns here, but it isn't because I want them here. :(
>Actually
>I feel quite safe with my dog and a cell phone by the bed at night.
>And both can travel around in the car with me without any chance of
>getting into trouble for having a concealed weapon or something like
>that. <BG>
>
>If they outlawed guns, like I told Jackie, it wouldn't hurt my
>feelings
>one bit. But that is both unrealistic and unlikely to ever happen.
>And
>I do support any gun laws that are on the books. Unfortunately the
>laws
>don't seem to pertain to the bad guys though. <TIC> But they can
>slow
>them down a little, sometimes.
>
>Sue
>
>
>> HI Sue,
>>
>> I think there should be a general crime of "irresponsible gun
>ownership"
>> that would cover a variety of cases when someone's gun is either
>used for
>> a crime or involved in an accidental shooting. The severity of the
>crime
>> should be commensurate with the event involving the gun.
>>
>> And, IMO, getting one's gun stolen is an example of irresponsible
>> ownership. After all, if the purpose of a gun is to protect oneself
>from
>> being robbed, then it seems ludicrous to get robbed of that gun.
>>
>> Bill
>
>--
>Two rules in life:
>
>1. Don't tell people everything you know.
>2.
>
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