From: [K--O--R] at [delphi.com]
Date: Tue, 27 Dec 1994 00:10:01 -0500 (EST)

I found this interesting letter in the February 1995 issue of _Gun World_,
reproduced here as best I can:

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BIG BROTHER

I thought it interesting that on the San Bernardino (California) City
Fire Department, a (radio) call just came out about a child fallen 
(11:30 a.m., Sunday, Oct. 30, 1994) and included in the call was
(a statement) that "assault weapons are registered to that address --
no police unit available at this time."

So, you think you're not "registered?" And by the FIRE DEPARTMENT?

Bob Steiner
Upland, California

[Editor's Reply:]

This is about as chilling an observation as one could make. Thanks for
the info, Bob. For those who don't know GUN WORLD reader Bob Steiner,
he is as good at monitoring ratio traffic as anyone alive -- having done
it professionally for decades.

What is especially disturbing about the brief radio transmission is that
the call had nothing to do with crime, violence, or anything like that.
Rather, it would have been a totally routine call about a child who had
fallen down and been bruised a bit -- had it not been for the added note,
which by itself escalated the situation into something far more ominous
and sinister than it should have been.

This is a pristine example of how far the "them and us" syndrome has gone.
The mere juxtaposition of a routine fire department call and the assumed
"need" for a police unit, because some law abiding citizen had "done the
right thing" and registered his or her firearm is enough to make a person
gasp for air.

Anyone who things for a micro-second that there are not those within 
government who will overstep bounds and put decent citizens at risk 
unnecessarily should take note of this incident. It says it all.

Since there was no follow-up radio traffic, it can be assumed that all
went well on the routine child fallen call. But for the hapless gun
owner who had followed the registration law, there are other things to
consider. For example, when that radio call which also identified the 
exact address went out over the airways, it immediately noted that there
was an assault rifle registered there. Any criminal who might have been
monitoring the airwaves, and many of them do, would instantly know where
to go to steal a gun -- just wait outside until the owner left home and 
then bag it.

There are so many unsavory aspects and overtones to this situation that 
it boggled the mind. Does it make anyone wonder where else reference to
registered guns is made -- and by whom, to whom and about what? This is
no school room "exercise." This really happened, and similar atrocities
likely continue ...

-- From _Gun World_ February 1995, p. 8 & 24
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-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ken L. Holder        | "Society" is a convenience for those who need an  
[k--o--r] at [delphi.com] | excuse to control the lives -- or steal the       
Lever Action BBS:    | property -- of others. --- L. Neil Smith, Lever   
  (303) 493-6674     | Action BBS, Dec 7, 1994, Message # 2243           

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