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To: Jacques Chitte who wrote (86)	5/1/1998 1:36:00 AM
From: LoLoLoLita	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 174

Alex, I have to agree with you on that! I used to live in New Mexico where any 21-year-old who wasn't a convicted felon could buy a handgun. Carrying guns on the street is legal as long as they aren't concealed. Concealed weapons are fine as long as you're in your own home, which was extended by at least one one state court to include a car operated on public streets and highways. (But not motorcycles!) Well, one big benefit of that legal situation is that they have a DAMN GOOD program from the Albuquerque Animal Control Division to deal with complaints of barking dogs being a nuisance. All you have to do is call them and say the neighbor's dog is barking and it's driving you crazy, and they'll be over the very next day to give that neighbor a lecture. They have a mediation program--the whole enchilada. Hawaii is different. Here nobody has handguns, and not many even have rifles. So if you have a barking dog problem here, and complain to the county, they'll just tell you to find a new place to live, or go back to the Mainland if you don't like it. David

To: Jacques Chitte who wrote (86)	5/5/1998 10:11:00 AM
From: Grainne	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 174

Alex, I don't think there is a concept of personal freedom which actually involves carrying guns everywhere. Certainly, there are free, western societies where this is not the case, or handgun controls have been legislated over time, and no other freedoms are eroding. This argument reminds me a little of the domino theory. I am going to url a column by Joan Ryan, from the SF Chronicle, over at Feelings sometime later, because I really like it, but I will just quote from it briefly here to show you that, by any rational standards, America IS turning into a shooting gallery! "According to a 1996 Police Foundation poll, Americans privately own between 190 million and 220 million firearms. So it's not surprising that, according to another study, the overall firearms death rate among children 14 and younger is 12 times higher in the United States than in 25 other industrialized nations combined. In real numbers, 14 children in America are killed with guns every day, and four times as many are treated for gunshot wounds. About 400 children die every year in unintentional shootings." To me, this in itself is an argument in favor of my remark that America is falling apart. I am not sure how we can debate such an elusive, broad, comment, however. Ideas?