Posted on 01/26/2008 2:24:10 PM PST by neverdem
'Administration should reflect right to keep and bear arms'
A Republican congressman from Virginia is asking President Bush to order the Justice Department to submit a brief in a U.S. Supreme Court case that supports the rights afforded U.S. citizens under the Second Amendment.
The request from Rep. Virgil Goode concerns a filing submitted by the Justice Department in a Supreme Court case over the legality of a handgun ban imposed by the District of Columbia.
A similar request already has been submitted by officials for the Gun Owners of America, whose executive director, Larry Pratt, warned:
"If the Supreme Court were to accept the Solicitor General's line of argument, D.C.'s categorical gun ban of virtually all self-defense firearms could well be found to be constitutional. ..."
But worse than that, he said, the new precedent to affirm any and all gun restrictions would be "reasonable," constitutionally the lowest rung of the qualifications ladder.
"In contrast to other provisions in the Bill of Rights, which can only be trumped by 'compelling state interests,' the Second Amendment would be relegated to an inferior position at the lowest rung of the constitutional ladder, should the Justice Department prevail," said Pratt.
Goode now has weighed in on the issue, sending Bush a letter this week about the arguments submitted in the case.
"If this view prevails, a national ban on all firearms – including hunting rifles – could be constitutional, even if the court decides – on ample historical evidence – that the Founders intended the Second Amendment as an individual right," his letter said.
"I would ask that you direct the Justice Department to withdraw this unfortunate brief and to replace it with an opinion which reflects the right of law-abiding Americans to...,"
(Excerpt) Read more at worldnetdaily.com ...
If Bush doesn’t order Justice to withdraw the brief, and if the USSC agrees with it, Bush will go down as the WORST President in U. S. history.
He already has several strikes against him, leading toward that ranking. This issue would seal the deal.
God given rights guarenteed by the Second Ammendment.
Get it right!
Virgil Goode for President !
I wish a bunch of Representatives and Senators would get together and file a friend of the court brief also expressing the view that the 2nd Amendment is an individual right. Hell, these people are lawyers and they should be able to whip it out in a few days.
And I'm not even a gun owner, but I understand the Founders wisdom of the 2nd
“And I’m not even a gun owner,...”
Why not?
Why not?
Maybe I'm just stoopit ........
The gun grabbers understand that very well too.
Don’t you need a spine to be able to write? I’m just saying...
That's not quite right either. The Second Amendment is nothing more than a collection of words on paper. Its sole effect is to inform the populace (well, that portion of them that's paying attention) that any government in this land that seeks to disarm the populace is illegitimate.
Amici briefs in support of Heller are not due until Feb. 11, with Heller's own brief due Feb. 4. Since a bunch of DemonRats got together and did this, why not a bunch of Real Republicans (as opposed the too large crop of RINOs in Congress).
Here is the list of DemonRats who filed the brief linked above:
Representative Robert A. Brady (PA-01)
Representative John Conyers, Jr. (MI-14)
Representative Danny K. Davis (IL-07)
Representative Keith Ellison (MN-05)
Representative Sam Farr (CA-17)
Representative Chaka Fattah (PA-02)*
Representative Al Green (TX-09)
Representative Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07)
Representative Michael Honda (CA-15)
Representative Zoe Lofgren (CA-16)
Representative Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04)
Representative Gwen Moore (WI-04)
Representative James P. Moran (VA-08)
Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC)
Representative Bobby L. Rush (IL-01)
Representative Maxine Waters (CA-35)
Representative Lynn C. Woolsey (CA-06)
Representative Albert R. Wynn (MD-04)
Horrors! One is from Texas! Southwest Houston suburbs, not too far from the Eaker compound.
Their basic argument seems to be that the Court should defer to Congress judgment on interpreting and enforcing the Constitution. And of course the "right of the people" is really "power of the states to arm their militias, which no longer exist" argument that most of the Amici for DC make.
The * means he was the lead on this brief.
Heres the, whatever he is, himself....
He's the Chairman of the Congressional Urban Caucus, is has a page on his Congressional site about the brief, paid for by our taxes, but probably the taxes of few if any of his constituents, who mostly don't pay any. His district is in Western Philidelphia.
The Ripon Society?
The Log Cabin Republicans?
Hard to believe how far things have regressed since Ashcroft made his stand, and went on record with the official position of the US gov being that the 2nd did indeed address an individual right.
Has Ashcroft’s official statement of federal policy ever been rescinded — or is it merely being igored, swept under the rug?
It's an inconvenient truth. The perfumed princes now, as in the past, don't want an uppity poplace.
Oath to defend and support the Constitution? What’s an oath? Is that some sort of breakfast food? Constitution? Isn’t that what happens when you can’t have a bowel movement? What a bunch of asses - literally!
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