Disarming the Most Vulnerable - Second Amendment Sisters File Amicus Brief in Supreme Court Case...

Hawaii Reporter ^ | 2/15/2008 | Genie Jennings

[neverdem]

Second Amendment Sisters File Amicus Brief in Supreme Court Case 'Washington, D.C. v. Heller'

Second Amendment Sisters, through Southeastern Legal Foundation, Inc. (http://www.southeasternlegal.org), has filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court hearing of Washington, D.C. v. Heller.

"Advocating on behalf of women, the elderly and the physically disabled, the amici herein argue the actions of the District of Columbia have harmed the members of society most physically vulnerable to criminal attack."

"When the government strips the individual right from these groups' members, evidence shows that they, more than others, are vulnerable to predators because they are perceived to be weak."

"The amici believe the evidence and authority presented in this brief will assist the Court in preserving the right "to keep and bear Arms" for self-defense, a right that preexisted its recognition within the Second Amendment."

To read the entire brief go to our Web site http://www.2asisters.org

We have a right to life. We have a right to protect that life and the lives of those around us. We have a right to the means to do so. If we are denied the means to defend our life, we are effectively denied our right to life itself.

For over 30 years the citizens of Washington, D.C. have been denied the right to a means of protecting their lives, and thereby denied their basic human right to life. On March 18, 2008 the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments in this case.

Second Amendment Sisters is a grassroots organization dedicated to preserving the individual basic human right to self-defense.

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[wastedyears]

Good going, ladies

[AmericanGunner]

PING A LING A LING.....!!!!

[Resolute Conservative]

Go get ‘em.

[cowboyway]

In a related thread I believe the case for gun control is refuted: We must end teen booze culture says mother of fatal "happy slapping" kid

Despite the talking heads on the evening news implying otherwise, violent crime is steadily coming down in American cities, despite the fact there are more guns in America than ever before (i.e., refuting the simplistic public health view of "more guns, more crime"[5]) and record numbers of citizens carrying permits for concealed firearms. Only Switzerland, where virtually every home houses a fully automatic firearm and every adult male citizen is armed and expected to participate in the national polity as well as local self-government, can boost a longer-lived but just as stable a republic as ours. To make matters worse for British citizen disarmament, despite their draconian gun control laws and their loss of civil liberties, crime has steadily increased in Britain in the last several years: "Britons are chagrined by the findings of a U.S. Department of Justice study that says a person is nearly twice as likely to be robbed, assaulted or have a vehicle stolen in Britain as in the United States. The Trans-Atlantic cousins can take comfort in the fact that the United States remains far ahead of Britain in violent crimes, including murder and rape, although the gap is narrowing there as well."

[Ancesthntr]

We have a right to life. We have a right to protect that life and the lives of those around us. We have a right to the means to do so. If we are denied the means to defend our life, we are effectively denied our right to life itself.

I couldn't agree more, and these reasons are part of why I own, uh, more than 1 firearm. I wholeheartedly support this organization and its goals, and thank them for contributing to the case that could break federal gun control.

However, the 2nd Amendment isn't about self-defense any more than it is about deer hunting (however worthwhile those things are). It is about defending our liberties against those internal or external enemies who would destroy them. This is what Judge Alex Kozinski said about the 2nd:

The Second Amendment is a doomsday provision, one designed for those exceptionally rare circumstances where all other rights have failed -- where the government refuses to stand for reelection and silences those who protest; where courts have lost the courage to oppose, or can find no one to enforce their decrees. However improbable these contingencies may seem today, facing them unprepared is a mistake a free people get to make only once.

Nothing about street crime in there. Also nothing about a pure view of the 2nd as a bulwark against tyranny that would in any way prevent people from defending themselves against street crime (to the contrary, more people armed with military-suitable firearms will be a big deterrent to crime).

I know, I know - this is simply one piece of the puzzle, one tiny part of the argument against the DC brief and its absurd claims. But the 2nd really isn't about crime - falling back on that argument can be a justification for stricter gun control (among the mindless or the statists, to be sure, but an argument used by the other side nonetheless).

[neverdem]

However, the 2nd Amendment isn't about self-defense any more than it is about deer hunting (however worthwhile those things are). It is about defending our liberties against those internal or external enemies who would destroy them.

The SAS brief seems to address the other appellants in Parker et al. v. Washington D.C. who are still standing in limbo as far as legal standing goes. I have to read it.

[El Gato]

But the 2nd really isn't about crime.

At base it's about self defense, mutual or not. Defense against criminals, in and out of government, and defense against external enemies, whether they where red coats, hammer and sickle, or green crescent.

[El Gato]

where red

wear red

I was a little too quick on the button.

[NewJerseyJoe]

> the 2nd Amendment isn't about self-defense any more than it is about deer hunting

True. But with so many amici curiae being filed in this case, it helps (and is refreshing) that different groups are covering all the myriad aspects of gun rights.

[El Gato]

SAS site seems to be hors de combat, but here is a link at to their brief, which was a joint brief with the Southeastern Legal Foundation and others.

[Nachoman]

Preach it, Sisters!

[neverdem]

Thanks for the links.

[neverdem]

Thanks for the link.

[spokeshave]

Maybe the Pink Pistols can file a brief...(no pun intended)

[El Gato]

I've just finished reading the brief. All except for two of the declartion. I did read the one by Massad Ayoob. The Boobs at VPC had the arrogance and stupidity to pull out of context quotes from his books, and those of others, to try to say that handguns were no good for self defense. This was in their amici brief in Heller. Mas handed them their heads on a platter.

[El Gato]

Maybe the Pink Pistols can file a brief...

Umm. They did

[beltfed308]

After reading all that crap I am very surprised that guns were not blamed for global warming.

[beltfed308]

After reading all that crap I am very surprised that guns were not blamed for global warming.

[neverdem]

El Gato's link in comment# 11 links the pdf from SAS et al. at the website of Gura et al. I read the version at SAS. Somehow, I have the impression that pdf versions are less amenable to alteration, and that briefs are required by the SCOTUS to be submitted in that form. Any comments are appreciated.

AARP Letter to SAS Member (Second Amendment Sisters)

Obama gives opponents plenty of ammunition

Flex-Fuel Folly

Navy Missile Hits Spy Satellite

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