[FTL]

"If you are not responsible enough to own one of these then you shouldn’t own one.

Fawn wrote: "Who's gonna make this decision? Government? State? Neighbors?"



Well, lets turn that question around....

Who makes the decision if a citizen is responsible enough to;

Operate a motor vehicle? (license, registration and proof of insurance please...and in some states annual vehicle inspection sticker)

Operate a commercial truck or a school bus?

Operate an aircraft?

Has satisfied the requirements for a building permit? Operate a ferry boat or commercial vessel?

Operate a freight train full of dangerous chemicals?

Practice as a doctor, Nurse, certified engineer, lawyer or veterinarian?

Carry a concealed weapon?

Promote and host professional fights?

Be certified and sworn as a police officer?

Be certified as a fire fighter? Work as a licensed Private Investigator? (varies from state to state.

etc. and so on. The State says "Yea" or "Nah" - in the majority of cases through various commissions and boards with the legal power to certify and permit and revoke. But you knew that already. Problem is the constitution does not say "right to keep and bear Pit Bulls" or "Arms removed by Pit Bulls...." Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely playing devils advocate against both sides in this debate and am actually quite neutral on the question of "right to have" a "killer dog" - other than my already defined stipulations.

[Darnright]

> Don’t get me wrong, I’m definitely playing devils advocate against both sides in this debate and am actually quite neutral on the question of “right to have” a “killer dog” - other than my already defined stipulations. <

Most localities prohibit owning “killer” dogs. However, the dog must, in the majority of cases, be proven to individually be a danger to society.

You cannot prove that an entire breed (which the pit bull is not, by definition) or especially an entire type (which defines the term, “pit bull”, but also defines the term, “terrier”) of dog poses a definite threat to the citizens in the area.

[Don W]

Dang, you got me: I rose to the bait.

You still come across as somewhat more statist than I am comfortable with.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Funny, because frankly, all those things you mentioned can occur naturally and thus, really shouldn’t involve government.

Although I can see some reasonable oversight (especially for medical); but even starting up something should be free of hassle.