Submitted by Guest Blogger, Lawrence Rafferty
In light of the tragic shooting today in Arizona, I have to wonder aloud if automatic weapons should be banned by this country. I realize that the 2nd Amendment right to own a gun is strongly defended by the NRA and other right-wing groups, but I am sick and tired of reading about all of the shootings the past couple of years. Whether it was the shootings earlier this year at various United States Marine sites around the country or the California shootout in July with the guy who was trying to attack the ACLU and the TIDES non-profit organization; the vitriol seems to be on the rise. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40978517/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/ And with politicians fanning the flames, this vitriol is not bound to be diminished anytime soon.
The Second Amendment is a very concise Amendment. “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#Am2 We have seen various attempts over the years by the Feds and many States and municipalities to restrict gun ownership. The recent Supreme Court case of McDonald , et al vs. City of Chicago, Illinois, et al affirmed the fundamental right of Americans to own a gun by a 5-4 decision. http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-1521.pdf The McDonald decision did not give us any guidance on what kind of restrictions to that fundamental right the Supreme Court would allow. However, how can automatic weapons or high-powered rifles be exempt from an outright banning of their ownership or at least significant restrictions on their use? Can a good faith argument really be made that an automatic weapon is necessary for personal protection?
The Supreme Court Justices do not live in a bubble and they must see what damage these weapons have already brought to families across the nation. Don’t they?
Elaine,
“The gun proponents are just as emotional about the subject of gun ownership as the gun control advocates are about gun control.”
Yes, some are. However, I think OS and myself have been quite unemotional about this issue.
FF Leo,
Ms. EM wrote:
“Being emotional shouldn’t always be perceived as a negative.”
____________________
You respnded: “I completely concur.”
*****
Was that a response from your logical or your emotional self?
😉
Gun control is being able to hit your target. 🙂
Elaine; You make a good point. Many of the gun proponents are very very angry men.
Elaine,
It was OS who called me emotional … if one can belittle the other person’s opinion then one can intimidate said person into submission.
Uh huh, Uh huh … I liiike it .. Uh huh, uh huh
Buddha,
The gun proponents are just as emotional about the subject of gun ownership as the gun control advocates are about gun control.
Ms. EM wrote:
“Being emotional shouldn’t always be perceived as a negative.”
____________________
I completely concur.
Blouise,
I’m not trying to get you to stop conversing. It’s on topic and robust, but by the same token, you’ve chosen a path of futility both legally and as a matter of practical implementation. I admire the emotion behind it, though. It’s a good human and humane response to a terrible thing. As long as you are having fun and not bloodying your head against the wall, I’ll not try to stop you.
“I’d be happy to give you a long list of self defense stories not involving rape or women if it will make you feel better.” (Jason)
========================================================
thanks, but I feel fine
Wow.
Pardon that awkward sentence there, Elaine.
Buddha,
Come on … it’s a good discussion and I’m having fun.
Elaine,
I don’t think that being emotional is always a negative.
It just is in this instance.
It leads to an unconstitutional solution that’s impossible to implement and has other, subsequent and consequent consequences that can even further negatively impact our already eroding Constitutional rights.
Blouise-
I honestly wasn’t considering the type of crime or that you are a woman – I was simply citing an equally emotional and true story. I could have asked why you chose to highlight the nine year old child’s death rather than that of any of the adults. In any event, I’d be happy to give you a long list of self defense stories not involving rape or women if it will make you feel better.
So I ask again, why is your emotional anecdote more compelling than mine?
Why is it that people who are in favor of gun control and present arguments are called emotional–but those who are against any kind of controls being imposed on people’s rights to own any kind of high-powered weapons aren’t?
*****
FF Leo,
He said: Logical
She said: Emotional
Isn’t that the way it goes?
*****
All I know is if my generation hadn’t gotten mad as hell about the Vietnam War, that conflict may have gone on for many more years. Being emotional shouldn’t always be perceived as a negative.
I have a question for those who want to outlaw private ownership of guns. Given the number of guns in this country, and the fact that ownership is a visceral issue for most of the owners, how do you plan to implement the kind of gun control you advocate?
I would like to see your game plan for going into the hills and hollers of Appalachia to tell the folks there you have come to take their guns from them. Would you be willing to go there yourself to be the “gun confiscator?” Who would you send, considering most law enforcement officers in the area would support the gun owners. Do you see yourself going up a narrow dirt road up in the hills to take guns from the residents there?
There is idealism, and then there is practicality.
My father’s co worker accidentally killed his 9 year old daughter.
Jason … good for you … somebody had to bring rape into the discussion … especially when a woman is saying something your disagree with. Well done bucko!
Blouise,
I am a lost cause regarding many subjects today.
Former Federal LEO
1, January 8, 2011 at 10:52 pm
Blouise,
You know you are one of our all-time favorites here and you will always be that to me. We understand your thoughts. However, please read and reflect upon what Otteray Scribe wrote. He stated the context better thus far than all of us before him combined..
==============================================
That would require a certain kind of logic which I hope I never develop … when it comes to guns, consider me a lost cause 🙂
I don’t mind being in the minority on this issue.
Boy, this is turning into somewhat of a he said/ she said argument folks.