X-Sender: pop.primenet.com Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 20:44:00 -0700 To: opinions@pni.com From: "T. Weaver" <weavert@primenet.com> Subject: 01/30/2000 Benson CartoonDear Editor,
Benson's analogy of cars and guns being equal in needing to be registered needs to be followed to it's logical conclusions... 1. Since driver education is taught in public schools, gun education must also be taught, if you follow Benson's analogy. 2. A person can buy a car without a license, but can't legally drive it on city streets, but can do so on private property. Thus, in Benson's world, anyone can buy a gun for their private homes or businesses without a license, they just cannot transport it there or legally take it off property. 3. A vehicle can be owned and driven on private property by anyone at any age without any government registration. Thus, once on private property, guns can be used, handled and carried by anyone in Benson's world. 4. A person can have a license without a vehicle (Think New York City as an example). Licensed individuals can go to Avis, Hertz or any other car rental agency and rent cars ranging from Ford Escorts to Cadillac Sevilles. Thus, a licensed individual should be able to rent guns ranging from pocket pistols to large caliber handguns and rifles and keep and carry them for as long as they are willing to pay a rental agreement. 5. The government does not restrict the type or make or model of car I can own. I can buy a Ford Fiesta or a Ferrari. A Hummer or a Hyundai. Thus, in Benson's world, I should be able to own any kind of firearm I want, from single-shot .22 to fully-automatic M-60 7.62 belt-fed machine guns. 6. The government allows me to drive my car nearly anywhere I want in our great Country without special permits or restrictions. In Benson's world, I should be able to carry my .45, .38 or any other gun I choose anywhere in the United States without restriction. 7. Once the initial license is granted, Motor Vehicle Department rarely, if ever, require additional skills testing, only written exams covering local regulations and some "what if" scenarios. In Benson's world, the same would apply to gun licenses. 8. My driver license is not restricted to vehicles I own. In addition to renting cars or trucks, I am free to borrow any vehicle my friends will let me have...and I am free to loan my car to anyone I want. Thus, in Benson's example, I could have a license and just borrow my friend's pistol for a weekend. 9. The only barrier to entry in selling cars is money. Thus, in Benson's world, I could open a gun dealership with few government restrictions. 10. If I sell my car to someone else, I do not need to check if they have a license or insurance. I take their money and notify MVD of the sale. Thus, in Benson's world, I can sell my guns to anyone who appears old enough as long as I notify "the proper authorities". 11. Driver licensing requirements have not stopped people from driving on suspended licenses or from obtaining cars without a license. Nor have they stopped people from using cars as getaway vehicles during bank robberies, kidnappings, etc. These people are criminals. Thus, in Benson's world, they will still be criminals and no amount of licensing or restricted ownership will stop these people from committing crimes. Please tell me how licensing me and my guns in the same fashion as cars will stop criminals from continuing to be, well, criminals.
As you can see, Benson did not think this completely true. It's not about criminal control, it's about control of gun ownership. There is no right to own cars listed in the Constitution.
Sincerely, Tim Weaver Glendale, AZ