🚀 go-pugleaf

>In article <NEWTNews.22820.782986173.woolfson@woolfson.unicom.net> Eric Woolfson <woolf@unicom.net> writes:
> From: sgregg@ponder.csci.unt.edu (GREGG  STEVEN MICHAEL)
>
>>The figure I've heard is that about 100 people are killed with
>> assault weapons per year in the US.  That is about the same number
>> that are struck dead by lightning.  With 100 fatalities out of 
>> 265 million people it doesn't take much to get a big swing in the
>> percentage, pro or con. 
>
>	And your point is:
>
>	  A) Not enough people are being killed by assault weapons
>	       for us to do anything about it.
>
>	  B) Gee, it's too bad they are dead, but look at all the 
>	       great BENEFITS we are getting from over the counter
>	       sales of these things. Like for instance.......
>
>	  C) I've got my Uzi, and anyone that tries to take it from
>	       is chopped beef.


It's all very well to joke about Uzis and chopped beef, but there is a
matter of principle here -- why else do you think I'm spending all this
time arguing about it?. As responsible citizens, we have an interest in
encouraging our government to make decision based on facts and not
based on innuendo and hearsay.

Imagine if medical decisions were made using the same reasoning and
careful study of the facts that has gone into the assault weapons ban:

   John Q. Public goes to the doctor because he is suffering
   from back pain. The doctor says to him, "Well, John, your
   troubles are probably due to the fact that you sit in a
   poorly designed chair all day. I suggest you look into
   getting a chair that will be easier on your back. But
   also, I think you should give up playing softball as well."

   John is a little upset by this, since he likes to play
   softball on the weekends. He asks the doctor why there 
   is a need for him to give it up. The doctor says "I read
   an article in the newspaper the other day about Wayne
   Newton, and it said that Wayne's back strain was attributed
   to softball. Could be the same situation with you."

   "Uh, Doc... newspaper articles are all very well, but are
   there any medical studies that establish a link between
   the two?", says John.  The doctor shrugs. "No, I haven't
   seen any studies. What's the big deal, though? You don't
   really NEED to play softball... why don't you take up
   something else, like golf or tennis?"

   John is still puzzled. "But I'm good at softball. I don't
   want to give it up. By the way, what makes you so sure
   that Wayne wouldn't have had the same trouble if he
   played tennis instead? He might have had the same problem
   no matter what exercise he chose, no?"

   "Mr. Smith, I'm the doctor here, and I'll thank you to 
   respect my opinions", says the doctor. "Softball CAN
   cause back problems, that's that. I'm recommending that
   you give it up."


Nat
--
Nathaniel McIntosh     |    Department of Computer Science
mcintosh@cs.rice.edu   |    Rice University, P.O. Box 1892
713-527-8101 x2740     |    Houston, Texas 77251   USA