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From: dxp@pyuxhh.UUCP (D Peak)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Re: GUN CONTROL - mental competence ???????
Message-ID: <700@pyuxhh.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 28-Jul-84 11:22:34 EDT
Article-I.D.: pyuxhh.700
Posted: Sat Jul 28 11:22:34 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 29-Jul-84 00:48:51 EDT
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway N.J.
Lines: 87

Testing potential gun owners for mental competency reminds me of a short
story I read once.It suggests some of the problems inherent in what is
a valid test of mental competency .




The year is 2017.The roads are too congested for most people .Solar/nuclear
powered autos criss cross the nation at speeds in excess of 300mph.The national
drivers test is a 2 day intensive session at a remote facility.Joe Smith and
his wife Ann arrive at the Los Alamos testing site.

  Day 1 is the easy part.A 7 hour written exam followed by a 3 hour physical
exam.Joe and Ann feel confident that they have done well enough to be allowed
to participate in the 4 hour practical driving course on the following day.
They retire to their berths relaxed and confident.

  Dawn day 2.Joe & Ann receive a knock at the door and are escorted by an
official who tells them that Joe is being allowed to take the test but that
Ann only scored 99% on the written test.Ann is crestfallen.To lift her spirits
the official asks if she would care to go along with Joe on the practical 
driving test. This comforts Ann a little but not much.Joe,Ann and the
tester get into the car.
 The day progresses well for Joe covering high speed manoevring,cross-city
traffic test ,Urban blight traffic .They get back to the test centre and 
Joe is given his drivers permit.
  Joe & Ann decide to celebrate when they get home and as they leaving the test
centre a small child rushes out in front of the car.Joe swerves to avoid the
child.The car hits the kerb.The steering wheel is jolted from Joe's grasp 
and the car careens out of control and hits a utility pole.Ann is flung
from car into the road and into the path of an oncoming truck.Stepping
from the remains of the car Joe is devastated by the crushed remains of
his wife.The truck driver grabs Joe by the shoulder and shakes him.
"Mr ........Mr .....".


























"Time to wake up Mr Smith" says the official.
"What ..Huh....Damn what an awful dream " says Joe rubbing the sleep from
his eyes.
"That was no dream Mr Smith ...your berth is plugged into our Sub-Concious
Driver Emulation System"
"Did I pass" screams Joe."Do I get my permit ???"

"I'm afraid not Mr Smith ,after the experience you've been through on the
emulator ,no sane person would want to drive . I'm afraid that you are not
mentally competent to drive. ..........I'm sorry".


Catch-22

You can see where this is leading ......look at your calendar (the year fool)


-- 
   
     Dave Peak (pyuxhh!dxp)

Rev Jim - "What does an amber light mean"                                 
Bobby   - "Slow down"
Rev Jim - "What........does.......an.......amber..........light........mean ?"
Bobby   - "Slow down"
Rev Jim - "What............................does.........................."