Posted on 05/18/2002 7:16:03 AM PDT by Atlas Sneezed
You've all heard the canard from the EGGs (Elitist Gun Grabbers, that is) about how "any reasonable person" would support this or that gun prohibition measure because "it should be at least as difficult to get a gun as it is to drive a car in this country"? Well, I've had enough. I've snapped -- gone postal, as it were -- and now, I've come to agree. I think we should institute ten rules for car ownership, modeled after those rules we find desirable for gun ownership. Now let's see -- where to begin.
Rule 1. Automatic transmissions should be taxed and regulated prohibitively and the import of vehicles with automatic transmissions manufactured since 1986 should be banned (we'll call it the National Flivver Act (NFA) and amend it with the Flivver Owners' Protection Act (FOPA).)
Rule 2. All automobile dealers must be federally licensed and subject to periodic, unannounced inspections by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Flivvers (BATF).
Rule 3. All vehicle purchases from licensed dealers (by anyone other than a licensed dealer) must occur in person in the buyer's state of residence. No out-of-state purchases of automobiles from dealers, or purchase of automobiles from a dealer through the mail on consignment.
Rule 4. No one under 18 years of age may purchase an automobile, and no one under 21 years of age may purchase a motorcycle.
Rule 5. There shall be a five-day waiting period for the purchase of any vehicle, during which time the seller shall submit a federal form to local law enforcement whose responsibility it is to run a complete background check on the would-be purchaser to determine if he or she is legally eligible to buy a vehicle. Prior vehicular and/or parking offenses may be construed as grounds to deny the purchase.
Rule 6. Certain selected automobiles and motorcycles are prohibited from sale on the basis of their appearance characteristics.
Rule 7. Gas tanks with greater than ten gallons capacity will be prohibited from sale.
Rule 8. To prevent their unauthorized use by children, all vehicles should be stored with empty gas tanks. Gasoline and vehicles should be stored separately and both should be secured with tamper-proof locks.
Rule 9. The use of compact autos and motorcycles should be restricted to those who have demonstrated a proven need to operate these concealable vehicles. (Police, federal agents, and politicians' bodyguards will be exempted.)
Rule 10. The government should consider banning tinted windows, fiberglass bodies, assault vehicles (sports cars, whose only purpose is to exceed the speed limit and mow down innocent children), and certain accessories that serve no sporting purpose.
I fully realize these ten rules are no more than a good first step. But if they save just one life on our killing streets and highways, then they're worth it. They're a good first step.
We're doing it for the children.
There are more car dealerships in America than there are doughnut shops.
After all, no one really needs more than ten gallons of gas.
Or a 1.4 liter engine.
There really ought to be a law.
John Taylor is Maryland Coordinator of the Libertarian Second Amendment Caucus, and an excellent driver. Excellent.
Pointing out the large number of automobile-related deaths in comparison to gun-related usually causes them to go into reset mode and start chanting mindless gun-grabber mantras. We are not dealing with rationality here.
Bet he's handy with a shootin' iron, too.
What is it with the excellent analogy/allegory threads this week?
Try this one that describes the US seceding from the UN in the year 2060... replace UN with US and US with Confederacy for a history lesson from 1860-1861. =^)
Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit the Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com
11. No autos allowed within 1000 feet of a school. (think about the people killed in the McDonalds 'drive through' killed by auto this week, do we want motor vehicles close to our 'children'?
12. In NC you need to get a affadavit from a 3rd party that you are of good character and neither a drunk or druggie before being allowed to buy a car.
13. Want a Motorcycle? Plan on 90 day wait for approval from Sheriffs office.
Or when it reaches 150,000 miles on the odometer whichever comes first. I still have 50,000 miles to go on mine. ;^)
Just so she knows, I got my first car when I was 13. It had been flooded and was going to be hauled off for scrap and I talked the guy into giving it to me. We drained all the fluids and flushed the fuel tank, lines, transmission and engine, brake lines, master cylinder, etc., and dried things out. It took a week or so but we finally got it to start.
We lived on about 1200 acres that various family members owned and our neighbors also had a lot of land, so we probably had 250 miles of private dirt roads to drive around on. Since the car was driven on private land there was no requirement, at least at that time, that it ever be licensed, registered or that it be insured.
Licensing and registration was only needed to operate it on public roads. So, when Diane brings up her car/gun comparison I’m always tempted to ask if licensing owners/registering guns will be a de facto national carry permit – sort of like licensing drivers/registering vehicles is a national operating permit for cars. (Knowing full well that isn’t exactly what she has in mind, BTW)
:-)
"They seem to think that possession or and use of a car is a God-given right. When I patiently explain to them that it is a priviledge..."
Then you go on to state, ...and that gun ownership is a right affirmed by the US Constitution."
Substitute "enumeration" for "affirmed," and consider the following:
AMENDMENT IX
"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."
You also have a "right affirmed by the Constitution" to drive a privately owned automobile, as well.
Contrary to a common misuderstanding, driving a privately owned automobile, especially on public roads, is a right, retained by the people, that shall not be denied or disparaged because it is not "named" in the constitution.
The authors of the Constitution were extremely worried that future generations would limit "rights" to only those "enumerated" (named) in the Constitution.
Thus, they inserted the 9th amendment into the Bill of Rights.
Many authors of the Constitution thought that the Bill of Rights were redundant. That there was no need for the Bill of Rights because governments do not grant rights. The list of rights retained by the people is much too extensive to name all of them and no where in Article I through Article VI was the power granted to goverment to deny or disparage rights.
You have just made the exact error of declaring a right a privilege, just because it was not enumerated in the Constitution, that some of the authors of the Constitution had feared.
You have played right into the liberals favorite retort for denying and disparaging your rights, "compelling state interest," because you are willing to concede driving a privately owned automobile, on roads, financed by your taxes, as not a right.
It is too bad that the 9th amendment has been relegated to obscurity by the liberals and not resurrected by the conservatives.
I am hoping that since your are a member of this forum, Freerepublic.com, that you will now revised your thought process, to accept the power of the 9th amendment and reject the socialist notion that "rights" are only those that are enumerated.
Rule 1. Automatic transmissions should be taxed...
Only in a class three state. otherwise, illegal to own. Mere possesion of a converter or a auto select shifter, or even auto tranny fluid will get you 10 years.
Rule 4. No one under 18 years of age may purchase an automobile, and no one under 21 years of age may purchase a motorcycle.
Further, no person shall transfer ownership to another, even in their own family, especially of the ugly black vehicles, which have no sporting purpose. They must be surrendered to DMV.
Rule 5. There shall be a five-day waiting period for the purchase of any vehicle, during which time the seller shall submit a federal form to local law enforcement whose responsibility it is to run a complete background check on the would-be purchaser to determine if he or she is legally eligible to buy a vehicle. Prior vehicular and/or parking offenses may be construed as grounds to deny the purchase.
And in states like Cali, there shall be an additional 10 day cooling off period, especially for drivers who were passed on the road in an embarrassing manner, or cut off, and wish to storm into the nearest dealership to purchase a higher powered car for retaliation. Or for persons who were jeered at when passing a political event, as they may then wish to go get the biggest car they can find, and drive the streets, mowing down innocents.
Rule 6. Certain selected automobiles and motorcycles are prohibited from sale on the basis of their appearance characteristics.
And the list will be updated periodically, based on the whims of whoever the AG of a particular state happens to be. Additions to the list will be based on cosmetic appearance, if the lights will retract, country of origin, type of interior.
Rule 7. Gas tanks with greater than ten gallons capacity will be prohibited from sale.
As will be vehicles which have trunk mounted spoilers, all black finish, flip down headlights, large batteries, excessive bumber stickers...
Rule 8. To prevent their unauthorized use by children, all vehicles should be stored with empty gas tanks. Gasoline and vehicles should be stored separately and both should be secured with tamper-proof locks.
In the event a child gains access to a vehicle, the owner shall have his life ruined, ability to own another vehicle permamently revoked, must walk wherever he/she goes for the remainder of their natural born days. Cannot be in the vicinity of a location where another vehicle is stored, or used.
< / sarcasm >
15. Children in public schools are not allowed to play "cars". Even playing like your hands are on a steering wheel or making "vroom" sounds is immediate suspension.
16. Any games or movies with vehicles are rated Violent.
17. The Supreme Court will rule that only the National Guard is really free to own vehicles.
19. Groups would form and organize to ban certain 'ugly' cars like SUVs (Damn, they've already done that)
20. Vehicles larger than your standard police cruiser would be deemed 'cop-killer' cars and banned.
21. California would have special requirements and tests for all cars sold in their state. (Ooops, they've done that too.)
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