Keith, at 19:05 on May 29 1996, you wrote to Bill Grimsley...

BG> Given that the US mandated some years ago for a reduction in shotgun
BG> magazine capacity from 5 rounds to 3, isn't the drum magazine illegal?

KR> i dont know about shotguns, they certainly legislated about automatic 
KR> pistols. i saw a program on tv about when i was in the us, all new 
KR> magazines have a set maximum capacity, i think 9 rounds. older 15 round 
KR> magazines are legal but they can't sell new ones. 

Of course, it completely slipped my mind that US gun laws are state-based,
and vary quite markedly.  For example, I have a friend in Florida, where it
is (or was) perfectly legal to carry a handgun, provided that it is NOT
concealed (in an external holster perhaps?).  Same with that town in Texas
(?) where almost everybody owns or carries guns, and they have the lowest
crime rate in the entire mainland US (can't imagine why).  :)

KR> for this reason, gun dealers have been offering new pistols to police 
KR> departments at a big discount if they trade their old ones in. this is just 
KR> so they can get the old large capacity magazines. 

I presume that the coppers' guns are replaced with ones with 14-shot mags
though, otherwise there'd be no point.

KR> amazingly, the program reported that the cops were taking up the offer 
KR> enthusiastically! i'd think that the cops would be the last people to want 
KR> to see the more big magazines out on the streets.

Hard to say, but the US is weird with its elected Sheriffs and deputies,
employed city police and State Troopers, then you have the FBI as well, all
being run completely differently.  And, as has clearly been seen in some
rather unfortunate video footage, some coppers are no better than many
crims.

BG> As far as I'm concerned, it is my basic human right to be able to
BG> protect myself and my family from predators, and if I need a gun for
BG> that, so be it.

KR> statistics seem to show that, if someone is going to bump you off, its most 
KR> likely to be a rellie, or friend, a gun easily to hand facilitates that.

Sure, no argument with that at all, but in my case, that's simply not
possible (although that could well change at a later stage).  :)

KR> i dont have any problem with people who want to go target or skeet 
KR> shooting, or feral animal hunting having the guns that they need, as long 
KR> as they are securely stored. that would stop one supply of guns, 

Dunno, I personally think it would just make them harder to steal, and if
they can knock of a painting from the Louvre, a padlocked gun-safe isn't
going to stop a determined thief for too long.

KR> it would apear that the tassie loony stole his gun from an insecure gun 
KR> collection. of course, guns stored like that are no good for self defence, 

Yeah, it's a real Catch-22 situation, I'll admit.

KR> but then the thought of large numbers of probably very nervous citizens 
KR> having guns to hand is a frightening thought, if the senile old bugger next 
KR> door mistakes you for a prowler when you are putting the bin out for 
KR> instance.

Would you advocate the banning of cars, just because 2,000 people die in
road accidents each year?  The reality is that accidents will always happen
(but decent education should reduce them somewhat).

Regards, Bill
@EOT:

--- MsgedSQ/2 3.30