Newsgroups: talk.politics.guns
From: [m c clary] at [netcom.com] (Michael McClary)
Subject: Re: that Ms. Magazine article again...
Date: Wed, 22 Jun 1994 22:24:38 GMT

In article <2u83vk$[8 q 6] at [mojo.eng.umd.edu]>, Hugh Brunk <[hug h b] at [eng.umd.edu]> wrote:
>An article in the latest Ms. Magazine states that several states have
>been considering laws to take guns away from spouse abusers, and that
>the NRA has been silent on this issue.  Does anyone have any info
>about these proposed laws or any position the NRA has taken?

I have NOT heard the NRA position on such laws, but let me tell you
about how they work here in California.

 - Spouse abuse is normally NOT with guns.  Typically it's with
   hands.  If a tool is used, it is a knife or a common household
   object.  If it gets to court, it's because the abuser has enough
   of a strength advantage to systematically win such fights.

 - The court will typically issue a restraining order against the
   abuser if the abused requests it.

 - If a restraining order is issued, the abusing party may ask for a
   "reciprocal restraining order", i.e. that the abused also be ordered
   not to approach the abuser.  Such reciprocal orders are essentially
   automatic.  (Anti-gun judges have been known to ask the abuser if
   he wants the recripocal order issued.)

 - But you can't buy a gun while under a restraining order.  So the
   abused spouse (who is guaranteed to lose a physical contest and
   beaten, maimed, raped, or killed) can not buy a gun.  No "equalizer"
   for her.

New legislation has just been proposed, which would also impound any
guns already in the hands of a person against whom a restraining order
is issued, and which would also destroy the guns, without compensation,
after a short period.  If passed, it would result in the total
disarmament of abused spouses, leaving them at the mercy of their
abusers.

I refer to this bill as the "Spouse Abuser's Bill of Rights".

-- 
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	When guns are outlawed, Janet Reno will still have tanks.
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Michael McClary						[m c clary] at [netcom.com]
For faster response, address electronic mail to:	[m--h--l] at [node.com]