Date: Tue, 27 Jun 1995 18:29:10 -0500 From: "Rick Voden" To: firearms-alert@shell.portal.com Subject: RESEARCH: Gun Control & Discrimination In _The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology_, Northwestern University School of Law, Vol. 85/No. 3/Winter 1995/p. 764, T. Markus Funk discusses the issue of "melting-point laws", used primarily to ban "Saturday Night Specials". In so doing he presents a concise review of literature (Kates, Kopel, Kleck and others). He also refutes myths such as "no sporting use", "such inexpensive handguns are harder to trace" and "'melting-point' laws reduce criminals' access to firearms. Funk also discusses the Second Amendment, militias, Supreme Court decisions, how gun control laws have been used explicitly for discrimination and RKBA for self-preservation. Funk concludes, in part, stating: "Both the Constitution and the history of the United States grant citizens the right to own a handgun. All of the states and several territories of the United States, as well as the federal government itself, recognize the sale of firearms as a lawful activity, and both practical experience and empirical evidence appear to indicate that the right to own a handgun benefits society as a whole." This article could provide good reference for those of you looking for current research/opinion. Rick rvoden@omnifest.uwm.edu __ Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 09:47:09 -0700 From: swest@as.arizona.edu (Steve West) To: firearms-alert@shell.portal.com Subject: Melting Point Paper Heads up Book Review: I have waded through about 3/4 of a 40+ page article. I believe someone posted the cite to this paper a few days ago on this list. T. Markus Funk, (1995) "Gun Control and Economic Discrimination", The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, v85, p764 (Northwestern University). This is a truly excellent article and I encourage people to head down to their local law library to get a copy. He starts with the thesis that melting-point laws (laws which ban guns that melt under a certain temperature) are really tantamount to depriving the poor of their constitutional rights. He hits just about every angle imaginable in bearing this out. There is a discussion of technical forensic ballistics, a review of major Supreme Court cases (very well written and clear), why gun control is usually race control, comprehensive look at police and protection, and in the process he refutes just about every anti-gun argument against handgun ownership ever put forth. The article is well referenced, clear, and I thought very thorough. I also appreciated references to facts which we all tend to use but don't really know from whence they come. This is excellent reading and appeals to arguments that "liberals" should have a very difficult time refuting. swest __ Date: Fri, 30 Jun 1995 18:17:48 -0500 From: "Rick Voden" To: firearms-alert@shell.portal.com Subject: re: Guns & Discrimination In response to several requests I've received. Regarding copies of The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology: Northwestern University School of Law 357 E. Chicago Avenue Chicago, IL 60611 single issue: $8.75 phone numbers (could be these numbers are for advertisers): voice: (312) 503-8467 fax : (312) 503-0132 The issue I wrote about is: Volume 85; Number 3; Winter 1995; pp. 764-806 "Gun Control and Economic Discrimination: The Melting-Point Case-in-Point" by T. Marcus Funk Regards, Rick - Milwaukee rvoden@omnifest.uwm.edu