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Additional Text for the 10/28/04 Alumni Sandstorm 
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>>From: George "Pappy" Swan ('59)

Re: Gun Control
To: Joanne Boyd ('67)
    Oh nuts! Well, I was determined to get off this gun
control thing. However, with all due respect, you filed
your three sentence opinion (but a powerful three
sentences) so I can respond, right? No, it doesn't mean
"us'ens" need assault or fully automatic weapons. Please
reread all of the recent postings on pro-gun control in
Sandstorm with an open mind and keep in mind also that
some of that earlier stuff was written tongue in cheek,
just like your writing of your yesterday's entry. I only
want to try to clear up a misconception that seems to come
up repeatedly.
    Joanne, repeat after me, "SEMI" - AUTOMATIC. Now, 
would you tell us your understanding of that word and your
understanding of a semiautomatic firearm versus a fully
automatic firearm. If you can, then shame on you for
lumping them together. Many common legal shotguns, rifles,
and pistols have semiautomatic actions (working parts).
Semiautomatic is not a dirty word or an evil firearm as
many anti-gunners would have folks believe. Most of them
don't even understand the concept but they lump them all
together because of the terminology. To them, automatic
means that it fires a lot of rounds fast and blows the
crap out of everything like in the movies. The term,
semiautomatic simply means "semi or partially" automatic,
thus after you pull the trigger and the gun fires you
release the trigger and squeeze it again to fire again
because it only "semi-automatically" reloads in between
shots but it fires only one round each time you pull the
trigger opposed to having to work a lever, pump slide, or
a bolt action on other types of repeaters. However, pull
and hold down the trigger on an automatic firearm and it
will continue to fire repeatedly until all rounds are
expended or the trigger is released because it fires,
loads, fires, and loads... (recycles) fully automatically. 
Automatic firing weapons are not only already illegal to 
own without special permits (aka registration), they are 
unsuitable for hunting or home defense. I have already 
offered my opinion on automatic and assault weapons. 
    Now, you opened your posting by expressing innocent
amazement that this discussion is even allowed in Alumni
Sandstorm but then immediately filed your own opinions. I
am curious, what is your reference for insuring that, "Gun
control doesn't mean taking Uncle Henry's hunting rifle?
That is just your own opinion, right. I will give you the
benefit of the doubt that you may not be familiar with
firearms but feel strongly against them so in your
enthusiasm, you might replay terms and phrases that the
anti gun movement throws out. You stated, "Gun control
doesn't mean taking Uncle Henry's hunting rifle. It does
mean possibly keeping guns out of the hands of idiots."
    Let me conclude by "rephrasing" your own statements.
You're right, gun control shouldn't mean taking Uncle
Henry's (or Uncle Pappy's) hunting rifle or shotgun and it
should keep guns out of the hands of idiots but also --
idiots should never be allowed to gain control of GUN
CONTROL, either." Please feel free to shoot back, maybe 
we can reach a mutual understanding and someday call a
cease fire between us.

-George "Pappy" Swan ('59)
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