🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <7qeons$8i6$1@nnrp1.deja.com>, Dick <tjdick@my-deja.com> wrote:

> Hurray for Steve Hix!
> 
> Steve must have a headache from logically and calmly answering all the
> *idiotic* blather from that guy in Berkeley; I hope that guy does a
> better job on his Ph.D. defense.

I thought that Merlin was asking serious questions for the most
part, modulo apparently being affected somewhat by typical news
handling of gun-related issues. (Don't blame him for their being
ignorant twits.)
 
> It bugs me that thinkers (such as Merlin Dorfman with whom I recently
> corresponded and who unquestionably has a mind) become quite irrational
> when it comes to guns.  I am *NOT* picking on Merlin, but here is a
> prime example of hysteria eclipsing reason:
> 
> Merlin Dorfman <dorfman@netcom12.netcom.com> wrote:
> >>     It's not the CCW holders I'm worried about.  It's the arms
> >> race when the gang bangers, drug lords, etc. discover that the
> >> victims are shooting back.  Is the next step a permit to carry
> >> an Uzi to match the bad guys?
> 
> Most states now allow citizens to carry concealed, and no such thing
> has happened.  Why speculate where there's evidence?  Furthermore (as
> pointed out by Steve or someone else), only a sliver of those citizens
> eligible apply for the permit!  For example, in Florida, a populous
> state with 15 million, there are about 200,000 permit holders
> (according to the 60 Minutes report).  That's 1.3% of the state's
> population at large (sorry I don't have the number of those eligible to
> carry).
> http://www.census.gov/population/estimates/county/co-98-1/98C1_12.txt
> 
> All I can think of doing is persisting with logic.  It hasn't worked so
> far in California, but I keep thinking of a Hindu saying:  "Satyam ev'
> jayate" = "Truth alone triumphs."
> 
> Gun laws this year have all been falsely billed as something no one
> would object to.

No joke there.