Han wrote:
"Lew Hodgett" wrote in
news:4P%Xk.1638$us6.1484 @nwrddc01.gnilink.net:

Subject

As this is being typed the news is coming in that gunman have
entered
a Toys-R-Us store in Palm Desert, Ca (about 100 miles east of
downtown L/A), and are shooting up the place.

Too early for casualty reports.

The mess in India continues.

What the hell is this world coming to?

Lew

I believe that in order to be allowed to have a firearm, one should
have to pass examinations in firearm safety, mental stability, and
have never been convicted of any crime or tresspass with violent
overtones, including sale of a firearm to unauthorized person(s).
Anyone who fails any such exam should be entered onto a blacklist.

Under Federal law no person who has been convicted of a felony or been
adjudicated criminally insane is allowed to own a firearm, so you
pretty much have what you want.

It used to be that being committed would be a block, but the courts
struck that down.

Passing examinations in order to exercise a right has a very bad
reputation in the US, where such tests were used to bar minorities
from voting.

The right to bear arms should not be extended to those not
qualifying.

In which case it becomes a privilege and not a right.

Hey, my opinions are mine!!

--
--
--John
to email, dial "usenet" and validate
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)