It's a dark day in Mudville, as I have to disagree with Dennis.
Nobody can control ideas. Even if gov't could control commodities (and we know they can't, the can create black markets, however) they still cannot stop the free flow of ideas. Using a match, a forest, a cow's refuse and some naturally occuring minerals I can make a bomb, once I know how. Using fertilizer and common stove oil, I can make a bomb. Using alcohol, which I can produce from most any fruit, a piece of cloth and a bottle, I can make a bomb. Using cigarettes, some water, and a screen I can make a deadly poison. Using bleach and ammonia cleanser, I can make a poisonous gas.
Why worry about controlling the people who
don't break laws anyway? We're not going to blow up the neighbors for playing loud music, we're not even going to reduce the local politicos to subatomic particles for their treasonous votes; we are not a danger to anyone unless we are attacked. The criminals, OTOH,
break laws. That's why they're criminals.
The words being used by those of us here who want restrictions of some kind are the same words used by people we all revile. "Reasonable restrictions" whose definition of reasonable? Not mine. "Stockpiling" WTF is a stockpile? Isn't that what happens when a herd of cattle stampedes off a cliff? Your idea of a stockpile, and mine are probably very different. "Mandatory training" by whom, consisting of what? I've taken many europeans out hunting, all of whom underwent mandatory gov't training, weeks of it, and the lot of them are the worst gun handlers I'ver ever seen. Any 5 year old, properly schooled in firearms, is safer.
If the founders thought there were reasonable restrictions, they would have put them in the Constitution. Oh, that's right, they did. It's called the Bill of Rights, and it restricts
government from interfering with
the people.
Sorry to rant, but I'm saddened to see my allies mouthing the words of my political enemy.
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"All I ask is equal freedom. When it is denied, as it always is, I take it anyhow."
[This message has been edited by Ipecac (edited June 19, 1999).]