From: "Sean Sutherland" <maverick@ns.interconnect.net>
Date: Tue, 6 Aug 1996 08:03:18 +0800
To: Hallam-Baker <cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Re: Stop the presses -- Anti-terrorism bill not that bad
Message-ID: <19960805204130906.AAB148@maverick>
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Hallam-Baker Wrote -- 
> Date:          Sun, 04 Aug 1996 20:20:20 -0400

> I personally think that tagants is an insuffieicent approach to
> the problem. Given the number of gun related homicides in the
> US it is not unreasonable to require each individual cartridge
> to be stamped with a serial number and for gun dealers to be 
> required to record each individual purchase. That at least 
> was my advice to the UK govt after Dunblane. 

There's four major problems with this.  First off, a large number of 
guns used in homicides are revolvers or derringers (anyone got the 
numbers?).  These guns don't spit out the shells.  So, it would be 
utterly useless to do so.  The second problem is the number of shells 
expelled in the US every day.  I doubt there's enough room on the 
butt end of a shell to print that number (it couldn't be printed on 
the sides, as this would screw up the fit of the shell, and possibly 
weaken it).  And, it'd be almost impossible getting gun manufacturers to
pay for the equiptment that it would take to emprint serial numbers.  
The third number is that cartridges 
are recycled.  Aside from reloading your own, there's a large number 
of people that sweep up brass from gun ranges to reload themselves.  
The idea that someone swept up the brass could get almost anyone off. 
The final problem is the paperwork.  Cops today can barly keep up 
with the paperwork involved with the Brady Bill.  Could you imagine 
if they had to keep track of AMMO purchases?

> If people go arround claiming that ownership of guns is necessary
> so that people can commit acts of treason against the US govt
> then it is inevitable that there will be pressure for greater

The provision to give people the means to commit treason against the 
government are in the Constitution.  That's why the second amendment 
is there -- to empower the people to protect themselves against the 
government.  Then there's the first amendment, which is there 
partially so that the people can keep the government in check with 
speech and the press.

> regulation. The NRA has been playing a bad hand stupidly. By
> raising the militia argument they have played into the hands
> of abolitionists. It would be entirely foolish for the crypto

The NRA, I'm sorry to say, has screwed up royally.  It's about time 
that they regroup, or else they fall.


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   Sean Sutherland    | mailto:maverick@interconnect.net
PGP Key ID - e43e6489 | http://www2.interconnect.net/maverick
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