Fascinating, in-depth, neutral-tone article on the lawyers who are now planning to bring down the gun industry, having practiced on tobacco, in The New Yorker, May 17, 1999, p. 54. If you want to know how the strategy to eliminate firearms is being planned, you'll have to read this.

FYI

-- Blue Himalayan (bh@k2.y), May 11, 1999

Answers

I've read that fast foods, and perfumes are under consideration. One slice at a time.

First they came for the Jews, but I wasn't a Jew..........

-- A. Hambley (a.hambley@usa.net), May 11, 1999.

There's not a lot of lawyers who are qualified to discuss pathogens. (that's not a problem though, they'll just find some MDs with a desire for $$s)

It would also seem that being a lawyer is viewed as a "disease" by a great many Americans. (too bad that they'll put you in prison for practicing medicine without a license)

Those double-edged blades, "Fear" and "Greed" are gonna be the end of us yet. . .

-- Hardliner (searcher@internet.com), May 11, 1999.

Gee. Seems they don't have a whole lot further to go on this one.

Too bad I'm a terminal case.

-- Lee (lplapin@hotmail.com), May 11, 1999.

Hardliner, you are exactly right, maybe you missed your calling. They have hired up a bunch of public health experts, and are also relying on many academic studies that have appeared in the past few years taking this approach. Protect the children and all.

They are also using supposedly pro-gun orgs like the "American Shooting Sports Council" as a wedge to make the NRA look like nuts. One of the main lawyers, Dennis Henigan, crafted a very smart strategy waited for "the right case" to come along to fit it. It came along with the Ferri attack on the SF law firm, using a Intratec TEC- DC9.

Here's a quote from Henigan, from the article:

"This was a gun that would not be economically viable to sell to the conventional gun market. It simply has no use. But there is a market for it, and Intratec knew what the market was... The market was what we call the firepower market - consumers who are looking for firepower as the central feature of a weapon. and that could be survivalists, paramilitary types, militia types, criminals."

-- Blue Himalayan (bh@k2.y), May 11, 1999.

(fade in, small doctor's examining room, doctor stands in front of patient who is seated at edge of examination table)

"Give it to me straight, doc. I can handle it."

"OK, son. You've got a really bad case of what is known as 'Constitutional Syndrome'. In fact, you've got the most virulent strain of all...SECOND AMENDMENTITIS!"

"NO, NO, NO, ANYTHING BUT THAT..."

(cheesey organ music swells, cut to commercial)

-- Nathan (nospam@all.com), May 11, 1999.

Another cute quote:

"The day after the [Littleton] shooting, television talk-show host Rosie O'Donnell urged the women in her audience to get the guns out of their houses. "I know it's an amendment," she said. "I know it's in the Constitution. But you know what ? Enough is enough."

-- Blue Himalayan (bh@k2.y), May 11, 1999.

Actually, it is "victim diarmament syndrome" that is a disease. It is characterized by a pathological inability to take responsibility for one's actions and an unreasoning dread of others who do take such responsibility.

-- Steve Heller (stheller@koyote.com), May 11, 1999.

The argument completely misses the fact that to stop many diseases we allow children to get them at an early age so that it doesn't create major problems later. Similarly, we innoculate with muted strains of a virus to prevent the more serious problem...

What we really need is to teach our children and grandchildren about gun safety and responsible gun ownership...something that the NRA has been preaching for years.

The last thing we need is disarmerment of the victoms...who would just continue to be victomized.

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), May 11, 1999.

Yesterday in a very wealthy gated community in Florida a stalker shot a woman through the back door. She ran for the bedroom and he followed her. She had gotten her gun, which she had purchased because of this guy stalking her, and let him have it at close range right into the chest as he came through the door. One surviving smart lady and one very dead stalker.

Taz.....keeping score!

-- Taz (Tassie @aol.com), May 11, 1999.

I wonder how many of the lawyers engaged in this travesty own guns themselves. Few, I'd hope... makes the odds better for those bent on following the Bard's advice.

-- . (.@...), May 11, 1999.

Note that it would be the (reportedly law-abiding) Florida lady (intended victim), not the stalker whould be disarmed by the proposed legislation...

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), May 11, 1999.

If that lady in Florida were living in Iowa instead, and the perp had only broken into her house without shooting her, she would be looking at a murder charge, and probably would be convicted.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), May 11, 1999.

Why is it that conversations about gun restrictions make me feel like shooting people.

Eventually we will also have to take away all power tools, all vitamins, and autos, to ensure that really stupid people don't hurt themselves or others with them.

PJ in TX

-- PJ Gaenir (fire@firedocs.com), May 12, 1999.

This subject just peeves me off... :)

It's starting to remind me of a book though: "The Humanoids", science fiction. Robotic protectors arrive on Earth, and offer to serve anyone who will sign on to one of their contracts. Problem is that the machines were programmed to "protect men from harm", and take it literally. People are not allowed to eat unhealthy foods, partake of unhealthy entertainments, or posess "potentially dangerous objects". Wooden child's blocks are not even allowed, because of dangerous splinters. You can see where it goes..., and we're being led down that path.

-- Bill (billclo@msgbox.com), May 12, 1999.

Tom,

given the facts as presented, her actions would most likely have been legal here in Virginia, especially if the guy was a known stalker.

different states, different rules.

Arlin

-- Arlin H. Adams (ahadams@ix.netcom.com), May 13, 1999.

Clinton Upset With Gun Control Vote

Thursday, 13 May 1999 15:31 (GMT), (UPI Spotlight)

WASHINGTON, May 13 (UPI) - President Clinton again protested the Senate's refusal to pass a bill requiring background checks for firearm sales at gun shows.
Clinton told reporters (Thursday), "For the life of me I can't figure out how they did it or why they passed up this chance to save lives."
Clinton asked senators "to reconsider their decision.. ..The American people are watching this debate. They care deeply about the results."
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-- grogork (isit@morning.already), May 13, 1999.