posted on February 12, 2003 07:48:16 AM new
RE: In DC, only the criminals have guns.
It might be instructive for the members of the Cato institute and their team of lawyers along with the libertarian think tank to establish residence in a District of Columbia ghetto and find out how it feels to live there with bullets flying day and night throught the playgrounds and apartment windows.
Children can't defend themselves on the playground or streets with a gun and neither can adults. What kind of protection does a gun offer to someone sitting near a window when a hoodlum with a gun shoots the window out. The nuts traveling around DC have automatic weapons. Any effort to rid the city of such weapons has my vote.
A more aggressive effort by police to eliminate drug dealing will reduce crime more than armed citizens.
posted on February 12, 2003 10:47:12 AM newThe nuts traveling around DC have automatic weapons. Any effort to rid the city of such weapons has my vote.
Helen, I agree up to a point. You need to modify the statement to say illegal automatic weapons.
A legal owner of a legal class 3 weapon would not risk losing their license or their weapon by indiscriminately discharging that same weapon in a urban setting. Not to mention other legal repercussions of having charges filed for murder & 'etc"
posted on February 12, 2003 11:00:16 AM new
That article was poorly written. It took nearly to the very last paragraph to spell out what the law was that they are seeking to overturn:
"Ownership or possession of a handgun is a misdemeanor. It carries a penalty of a year in prison and a $1,000 fine. On a second offense, it is a felony, punishable by five years in prison and a $5,000 fine."
I've never heard of such a law before! Out here in the West, if a city were to make that law, every resident would go out to buy a handgun in order to force the city to arrest the whole town! That mayor doesn't belong in charge, IMO ~ people have a right to defend themselves with a weapon including handguns.
posted on February 12, 2003 11:12:27 AM new
Same here in Texas, Prior to passing the concealed carry law, carying a handgun was a misdemeanor. A lot depended upon the cops to enforce it. If you were stopped on the way to or returning from a firing range, hunting, or has just purchased the weapon, you might not be arrested. (You might beat the rap, but you had to take the ride).
Now it is automatically a felony. Again it is possible to have the charges dropped under the above reasons.
posted on February 12, 2003 05:10:48 PM new
When I first came to Portland in the late 70's, carrying a large knife was OK so long as it was plainly visible. We were always being told that if you got stopped by the cops to throw your handgun(s) onto the dashboard where they could see it so you wouldn't get caught with a concealed weapon. I have no doubt that this has changed.
