Trisha, the percentage of Americans owning firearms for protection is on the
rise--particularly among women.  Most "think tanks"--liberal &
conservative--attribute this to a general feeling of insecurity post 9/11
and, to a lesser degree, a ruling in Federal Court (California) stating that
police agencies are NOT bound to protect individuals from harm (upheld on
appeal).  In a nutshell, what this means is that LE officers do not have to
put themselves in harm's way to prevent a violent crime.  This stemmed from
a case where a California woman was being stalked and threatened by her
ex-husband.  He ignored restraining orders and her requests for "police
protection" were denied.  She then requested a permit to carry a handgun,
citing viable reason, and that request was also denied.  The long and short
of it was that her ex ended up killing her, the family brought suit against
the state and the courts decreed, through several appeals, that the
"government" has no inherent duty to protect individual lives.  I can
provide details when I get time later, if anyone wants.

Kyle

-----Original Message-----
From: Trisha Cummings [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, August 22, 2003 7:33 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: documentary


Hi Deri,

   You said just what I thought!! - Also since the feds have a well equipped
military - not sure what a handgun can do against a tank or APC, or Hummer -
macine gun, etc.  I am sure the founders never imagined the kind of weapons
we have today or we would all have the constitutional right to a bomb
shelter, and mandatory military service. I am truly curious what actual
percentage of Amercian own a gun - beyond the military and police, FBI, CIA
and other alphabet soup agencies.

   How are things across the pond these days?

                                     Trisha


> On Thursday 21 Aug 2003 4:38 pm, you wrote:
> > as far as gun control. putting all the bs about
> > hunting and sceet shooting aside where it should be.
> > the founders put gun ownership in so the future
> > oppresive governments could be overthrown.
> >
>
> Hmm, difficult to fight off Poison Gas and other WMD (which your gov has)
with
> handguns, at the time the founders wrote that they were saying the
populace
> should have the same weapons as the gov. Personal Nukes? Luverly!!
>
> Cheers
>
> Deri