I just go into recreational target shooting this past year. I am not a hunter. The caliber of gun that I have (.22LR) is basically useless for self defense (unless you are close enough to the perpetrator to kick him in the nuts). But HR 45 being introduce will do nothing to take one gun out of the hands of someone who A) Is not legally entitled to have it or B) Has obtained a weapon legally or illegally with the intent of committing an unlawful act or doing harm. In essence, it like most gun control laws, would have no impact on a criminal, and would make criminals out of normal law biding citizens. Also, the information required by this bill intrusive and has the potential for abuse. If the Congress is stupid enough to pass this, and Obama is dumb enough to sign it, I for one will have no intent of complying. I think it was Ghandi and King that called it "Civil Disobedience".
The whole purpose of the Second Amendment as provided by the founding fathers was to allow an armed citizenry ( a militia totally seperate from the government unlike the National Guard or Regular Armed Forces) to be an equalizer to a potentially oppressive government. I hope to God we never reach that point.
(This is probably the ONLY post I will make of a political nature, but it did touch a nerve.)
(This is from an e-mail I recieved
"And so it starts!!
I believe that if the men and women who founded this country were able to see it in all its "glory' today, they would weep. A country founded on individual freedoms and rights is being destroyed by the forces of social homogenization and political correctness that demand that everyone think and act the same. The very people who cry equality (which is about our rights, NOT our abilities) and diversity, are trying to force a slave mentality upon us.
ReplyDeleteSponsor: Rep. Bobby Rush [D-IL](no cosponsors)
ReplyDeleteThis person must have ties to the mob!
Look what happened during prohibition, Al Capone made millions!
This son of bitch needs his head examined!
I have no doubt that if this is enacted would be declared unconstitutional even before the ink dried in the federal register. Like with every right, there is a responsibility. You have the right to free speech, but can't holler "FIRE" in a theater. Likewise if you own a gun, you cannot use it in an illegal manner. But what other right in the Bill of Right would require a person to submit personal physical and mental health information, a social security number and drivers license to be put in a government data bank before you could exercise that right? Imagine having to do that before going to the church of your choice, or before speaking your mind in public or on a blog? This legislation is very draconian and should concern every citizen regardless if you own a gun or not. Once you let the camels nose in the tent, or give a mouse a cookie......
ReplyDeleteWell, looking at the bill with only one sponsor and no co-sponsors, I would say this will not make it out of committee.
ReplyDeleteI am not you NRA poster child and do favor modest restrictions to keep guns from being purchased by those who shouldn't have them. I know criminals don't obey the law, but remember, they got Al Capone on tax evasion so sometimes gun laws are the best way to get criminals off the street...frequently much easier to prove.
I read the text of this bill and my first reaction was it looks like a beauracratic nightmare.
Yelling Fire in a theater is probably the most misspoken quote of all time. There was never a trial about someone yelling fire. Nope. uh uh. What the trial was about was an antiwar protester during the WWI. He started telling people to refuse the draft. He was arrested and held without trial for long time. When it finally went to trial, it ended up going all the way to the Supreme Court.
ReplyDeleteIt was a Justice (can't remember his name that gave the overall opinion. They figured his protests were likened to "Shouting fire in a full theater." Because of this view, it was felt that he could not, or should not be allowed to voice his freedom of speech. He ended up staying in prison until a year or two after WWI was over. Yes, we have had and still have our own political prisoners.
Learned all about it in "Freedom of Expression" at my Liberally biased Engineering college. (They're all liberal don't ya know.)