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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dayuhan who wrote (5954)	2/15/2001 9:43:45 PM
From: average joe	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 82486

"that a minority of armed citizens might decide that armed opposition to the government is necessary to achieve redress on some issues that only they are concerned about" I think it's OK sometimes because the U.S. Constitution foresaw that in one of the amendments.

To: Dayuhan who wrote (5954)	2/15/2001 9:58:51 PM
From: thames_sider	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 82486

Opposing view to unrestricted gun ownership... In the UK, now, it's effectively illegal to have a personal gun. (basically: there are certain exemptions, for those with registered manual-load shotguns, or hunters on cull duty, that kind of thing. We do have armed military/police weapons (the latter in special circumstances only), but that's about it. Else: why do you need an tool designed purely and only to kill? Do you keep a stock of cyanide in your house in case you need to poison someone? No? So.. detail exactly why you need an object expressly and solely designed to kill other humans...? Self-defense? It's that dangerous where you live? Oh, against burglars? So, you keep a loaded gun by your bedside and wake ready to shoot and kill anyone who interrupts your sleep? oops, sorry, son... you wanted a glass of water but you got a .45 magnum round in the stomach. Ah. Self-defense, but unloaded and in a locked safe. yep, I'm convinced, that'll work. I'm sure they'll wait. So, with 60 million people crammed into 1/2 the space of California, a shooting for us is still national news. Including accidental ones. Compare the UK homicide rate with most US cities. If it's illegal to carry a gun, and it's a felony (1-3 years just for carrying) if you do... believe me, it's safer for everyone. If you don't like this, check out the figures on gun-related crimes. And do check and verify that more children are killed in 'gun-related' accidents in the US each year than there are total gun-related deaths - criminal AND accident - in the entire UK... and here, you (I) can walk anywhere without fear of being shot. Oh, and BTW, we've had our maniac killers recently. The first (1988?) got assault weapons banned to the public, the second (1996) got other guns removed from common ownership. And it's now a national scandal that 8 men (all apparently involved in drug-dealing) have been shot and killed in London... over the last 3 years. obviously just a coincidence. :-(

To: Dayuhan who wrote (5954)	2/15/2001 10:06:10 PM
From: Lane3	Respond to of 82486

Who decides when armed opposition to the government is justifiable or necessary? This is a really good question. Wish I'd thought of it. I hope someone answers it. Karen

To: Dayuhan who wrote (5954)	2/15/2001 10:07:17 PM
From: The Philosopher	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 82486

Who decides when armed opposition to the government is justifiable or necessary? According to the Declaration of Independence, it's when it "becomes necessary." They laid out a pretty clear list, but I don't think they intended it to be exclusive. what is more dangerous to the average citizen, the possibility of a government unrestrained by private armament or the possibility that a minority of armed citizens might decide that armed opposition to the government is necessary to achieve redress on some issue that only they are concerned about. A question many fat and happy citizens in Boston were asking themselves in the 1770s. How do we stop these hotheads from bringing ruin and destruction on all of us. Myself, I'm kinda glad the hotheads kept it up. I prefer our Constitution to the Magna Carta. Of course, it's not clear to me whether they ever had the wholehearted support of a majority of the population. Don't know enough about history to know that, and anyhow it became pretty dangerous after awhile to express support for England. Tar and feathers were cheap and handy.