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- Dec 8, 2005
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I am generally against gun control except in some common-sense cases (previous seriously violent offenders probably shouldn't be allowed to own guns). However, an idea came to me and I thought it would be interesting to consider. Suppose the following conversation happens at a sporting-goods store or gun dealership:
Customer: I need a really big gun.
Dealer: Rifle or shotgun?
Customer: No, a handgun, or maybe an assault rifle...I'm afraid I don't know much about assault rifles, though.
Dealer: So, a large-caliber handgun. We have several .45 caliber pistols, and we've got a .44 caliber magnum over here.
Customer: The bigger the better, because I'm going to kill a bunch of people and when I shoot them, I want to make sure they're dead.
Dealer: Uh, what?
Customer: I'm need a gun because I'm going to shoot a lot of people. I'm going to go into the mall downtown and just shoot people. Women and children, men, infants, old people, whoever happens to be there. I'm going to blow some people's heads off.
Should this person be excluded from purchasing a gun, given their stated intention?
Customer: I need a really big gun.
Dealer: Rifle or shotgun?
Customer: No, a handgun, or maybe an assault rifle...I'm afraid I don't know much about assault rifles, though.
Dealer: So, a large-caliber handgun. We have several .45 caliber pistols, and we've got a .44 caliber magnum over here.
Customer: The bigger the better, because I'm going to kill a bunch of people and when I shoot them, I want to make sure they're dead.
Dealer: Uh, what?
Customer: I'm need a gun because I'm going to shoot a lot of people. I'm going to go into the mall downtown and just shoot people. Women and children, men, infants, old people, whoever happens to be there. I'm going to blow some people's heads off.
Should this person be excluded from purchasing a gun, given their stated intention?