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To: breakem
For another example of Mencken's eerie ability to be ahead of his time, check out: THE UPLIFTERS TRY IT AGAIN .

This essay, first published in 1925, lays out the classic arguments *against* gun control, while rebutting the classic arguments *for* gun control. You'll find that nothing has changed in 77 years.

Excerpt:

The new law that it advocated, indeed, is one of the most absurd specimens of jackass legislation ever heard of, even in this paradise of legislative donkeyism. Its single and sole effect would be to exaggerate enormously all of the evils it proposes to put down. It would not take pistols out of the hands of rogues and fools; it would simply take them out of the hands of honest men. The gunman today has great advantages everywhere. He has artillery in his pocket, and he may assume that, in the large cities, at least two-thirds of his prospective victims are unarmed. But if the Nation's proposed law (or amendment) were passed and enforced, he could assume safely that all of them were unarmed.

7 posted on 04/06/2002 11:04:28 AM PST by Dan Day
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To: Dan Day
Thanx. I haven't really "discovered" Mencken for myself. BTW, I prefer the style of writing Twain, Mencken etc. where they use such great medifores (sp) and adjectives now out of favor.
19 posted on 04/06/2002 11:59:31 AM PST by breakem
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