From: steveo@eircom.net   
      
   On Tue, 13 Feb 2024 09:25:29 +0000   
   The Natural Philosopher  wrote:   
      
   > On 12/02/2024 19:10, TimS wrote:   
      
   > > We don't actually give a flying fuck about that. There was never any   
   > > justification for these weapons to be in private hands anyway.   
   > >   
   >   
   > The problem with that, is where do you draw the line?   
      
   	Wherever you can that works. I'm quite happy with the Irish   
   approach - if it delivers more than a joule in a projectile it is a firearm   
   and you need to show good reason when applying for a license (self defence   
   is *not* on the acceptable list). You will also be required to use it only   
   for the declared reasons. There are a lot of limits to what you can get   
   even when you've jumped through the hoops - mainly because it has been   
   decided that there's no acceptable reason for some classes of weapon.   
      
   > Is this a sensible place to draw the line?   
      
   	If it keeps the killings down and lets people who actually need a   
   gun get one then I'd say yes.   
      
   > And whilst gangland shootings may be scarce, our middle eastern friends   
   > have brought with them a culture of knives, the larger and more vicious   
   > the better.   
      
   	The good thing about a knife is that if it kills the wrong person   
   it's usually the person who's wielding it and not someone uninvolved, guns   
   are all too good at unintended consequences, often lethal.   
      
   --   
   Steve O'Hara-Smith   
   Odds and Ends at http://www.sohara.org/   
   For forms of government let fools contest   
   Whate're is best administered is best - Alexander Pope   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)