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Montanans Insist on Gun Rights
The Washington Times ^ | February 25, 2008 | Valerie Richardson

Posted on 02/25/2008 3:21:43 PM PST by kellynla

Montana officials are warning that if the Supreme Court rules in the D.C. gun ban case that the right to keep and bear arms protects only state-run militias like the National Guard, then the federal government will have breached Montana's statehood contract.

Nobody is raising flags for the Republic of Montana, but nobody is kidding, either. So far, 39 elected Montana officials have signed a resolution declaring that a court ruling of the Second Amendment is a right of states and not of individuals would violate Montana's compact.

"The U.S. would do well to keep its contractual promise to the states that the Second Amendment secures an individual right now as it did upon execution of the statehood contract," Montana Secretary of State Brad Johnson said in a Feb. 15 letter to The Washington Times.

The resolution also was signed by Rep. Denny Rehberg, Montana's lone Republican congressman, and state Sen. Roy Brown, who is running to unseat Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat.

The dispute goes back more than a century. Back in 1889, the settlers of the Montana territory struck a deal with the federal government: They agreed to join the union, and the government agreed that individuals had the right to bear arms.

That has worked fine for the past 118 years, but the Supreme Court is expected next month to hear oral argument in District of Columbia v. Heller, the appeal of a federal court decision striking down the District's gun-ownership ban on Second Amendment grounds.

The high court has not issued a broad ruling on Second Amendment law in almost 70 years, including the key question of whether it provides an individual right, like speech and jury trial, or a "collective right" held by state governments.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Extended News; Government; US: Montana
KEYWORDS: banglist; beararms; constitution; guns; heller; montana; mtsos
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To: Dead Corpse

Ok, thanks for your opinion, sorta. I’ll continue to categorically ignore all rifles chambered for that silly 303 british round. It might as well be a 44 henry rimfire as far as I’m concerned.


81 posted on 02/26/2008 3:35:29 PM PST by mamelukesabre (Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?)
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To: LucyT

“A few days ago someone posted the average Montana household has eight guns.”

Not .22s either.


82 posted on 02/26/2008 3:39:53 PM PST by Travis McGee (---www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com---)
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To: mamelukesabre

ANY rifle capable of “minute of man” at 500 yards is worth having, even if it only comes with ten rounds of ammo (after being zeroed of course.)

There are very good uses for a rifle that can hit at 500 yards, fired only one shot per engagement. Then it goes back into its hiding place.


83 posted on 02/26/2008 3:44:19 PM PST by Travis McGee (---www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com---)
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To: archy

They were Not just rebarrelling jobs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I’m not 100% on this, but I think the action is shortened for optimum speed with the shorter 308 cartridge length. And the magazine capacity was bumped up a few rounds.


84 posted on 02/26/2008 3:45:03 PM PST by mamelukesabre (Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?)
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To: Eaker; AK2KX; Ancesthntr; ApesForEvolution; archy; backhoe; bayouranger; Badray; Bear_Slayer; ...
CW2 PING


85 posted on 02/26/2008 3:48:03 PM PST by Travis McGee (---www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com---)
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To: Mogollon
Well, they'd have brought it on themselves. Too many of our freedoms have been stripped away, and this socialist welfare state they've created wasn't part of the original plan.
86 posted on 02/26/2008 3:50:37 PM PST by Caipirabob (Communists... Socialists... Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
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To: archy

“Was it like this?” fiercely answered Morant. “No; it was not quite so handsome. As to rules and regulations, we had no Red Book, and knew nothing about them. We were out fighting the Boers, not sitting comfortably behind barb-wire entanglements; we got them and shot them under Rule 303,” referring to the .303 calibre Lee-Enfield rifles the Carbineers carried.

Breaker Morant


87 posted on 02/26/2008 3:51:10 PM PST by Travis McGee (---www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com---)
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To: mamelukesabre; archy

Lot of kitchen table conversions being done in the Chang Mi regions taking old enfields and common hand tools , chamber reamers, go no go gauges made from a few dummy rounds etc to let the Karens use 7.62x54R stolen or captured .

Agree the caliber 303 is not being used THERE as much yet the Enfields are common......


88 posted on 02/26/2008 3:59:06 PM PST by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet. ©)
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To: mamelukesabre
1) Any working gun in any caliber can kill a person.

2) Our guns are very functional to us.

We own lots of long range deer, antelope, and elk long-rifles.

Large caliber handguns to ward off man & bear.

Shotguns, usually of large guage.

89 posted on 02/26/2008 4:06:03 PM PST by Bear_Slayer (When liberty is outlawed only outlaws will have liberty.)
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To: Squantos

Sure, that’ll get you another couple years of use out of an enfield. It would make a fun hobby if I had an old enfield with a bad case of throat erosion. BUt I don’t. And I’m not gonna either. I just don’t think it’s worth the time.

You know what? I might change my mind on that. A cheap old piece of junk enfield with a burned up throat reamed out to shoot russian ammo is a pretty darn good idea. I think I’d take one of those over an old SKS any day. THere probably aren’t any to be had at a price I’d want to pay though. I’m sure lot’s of people have already thought of it.


90 posted on 02/26/2008 4:22:09 PM PST by mamelukesabre (Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?)
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To: Spktyr

No politician can maintain a 300 yard perimeter forever. That’s well within the range of a decent rifleman with iron sights.


91 posted on 02/26/2008 4:22:28 PM PST by Noumenon (The only thing that prevents liberals from loading us all into cattle cars is the power to do it)
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To: mamelukesabre; archy; 300winmag; osagebowman; hiredhand; Travis McGee

This is the basic guide for doing a enfield conversion

http://www.jpfo.org/filegen-n-z/smle.htm

This is if ya want to do a wee bit more smithing at the kitchen table......:o)

http://www.jpfo.org/filegen-a-m/boltaction.htm

Enjoy yer old enfield. I do . The cups are almost identical too the .303 rounds so it’s very safe ! During my service career I have used the SVD / FPK sniper rifles from time to time and am very pleased with the 7.62x54R round . My old Enfields have new life in em. The basic conversion will leave the surplus brass fire formed with a small rim/bulge in the case unless ya want too set the barrel back a few thousandths to preclude such if ya reload. I have 2 of the rifles that are set up with and without setting the barrel back in such a manner. This conversion , crowning the barrel etc will get another 100 years of service out of the old warhorse !

If ya want the plans to an angle iron scope base for your enfield let me know and I will link ya too that as well !

Stay Safe !!


92 posted on 02/26/2008 5:23:08 PM PST by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet. ©)
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To: archy

The slide rule may go to 2800 yards, but my No. 1 rear sight only adjusts to 2000 yards, and my No. 4 adjusts to 1300 yards.


93 posted on 02/26/2008 5:28:58 PM PST by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: Travis McGee

Thanks for the ping. Just bidin’ m’ time.


94 posted on 02/26/2008 5:32:39 PM PST by wizr ("Give me liberty, or give me death." - Patrick Henry)
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To: kellynla

Bookmark.


95 posted on 02/26/2008 5:36:53 PM PST by OKSooner
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To: kellynla

Ohio Constitution
§ 1.04 Bearing arms; standing armies; military powers (1851)

The people have the right to bear arms for their defense and security;


96 posted on 02/26/2008 5:40:04 PM PST by EBH ( ... the riotousness of the crowd is always very close to madness. --Alculin c.735-804)
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To: Noumenon
No politician can maintain a 300 yard perimeter forever. That’s well within the range of a decent rifleman with iron sights.

The record for rapid-fire bolt-action accuracy is 38 rounds into a 12" target at 300 yards in 60 seconds.

With an Enfield.

In 1914.

97 posted on 02/26/2008 5:46:56 PM PST by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: Squantos

Coool.

A hundred years might be exaggerating a bit though. I would expect the russian rimmed ammo will start to get scarce in about 20 years.

Then you’ll hafta chop the thing down to chamber AK47 ammo!

LOL!


98 posted on 02/26/2008 5:48:54 PM PST by mamelukesabre (Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?)
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To: Squantos

I know a guy who’s got a rifle, “before” and “after” chamberings I don’t recall, though I believe one is the 7.62x54.

He just took a rifle barrel that had a corroded chamber, reamed it out to the other round, and reassembled.

The funny thing is that the fired brass has two shoulders, although it shoots pretty well.

He does not, of course, reload the used brass.


99 posted on 02/26/2008 5:57:27 PM PST by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: DuncanWaring; mamelukesabre

Yes that is the only drawback if you do not want to set the barrel back a few 1ooo’ths.........:o)

I will find my link too the angle iron scope mount base for the enfield for ya’ll !

Stay safe !


100 posted on 02/26/2008 6:13:38 PM PST by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet. ©)
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