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Argument: Hand-gun restrictions would not put extra strain on individual privacy laws

Extended argument and supporting evidence

  • Robert F. Drinan, Former Democratic US Congressman from Mass. and member of the House judiciary Committee, “Gun Control: The Good Outweighs the Evil”, 1976 (responding to Prof. Kates article) – “[An] argument offered by Prof. Kates is that the enforcement of a prohibition on the possession of handguns would produce major additional strains on the Fourth Amendment (American Constitution) privilege against unreasonable searches and seizures. Given the enormous number of items currently prohibited by law, it seems highly unlikely that the addition to the list of one more illegal commodity would lead to a significant increase in the incidence of police searches. Gun control advocates do not envision or support massive police intrusions into private homes in search of handguns; the constitutional requirement of a specific warrant obtained as a result of corroborating evidence and signed by an impartial magistrate would remain in force to preclude unreasonable searches.”