Posted on 08/19/2008 7:41:30 AM PDT by Panzerlied
In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court on June 26 struck down the District of Columbia's 32-year old ban on handgun ownership. I am shocked and outraged at the ease with which the court has turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to the reality of handgun violence. As no other court has done, the Supreme Court interpreted the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution in keeping with the conservative National Rifle Association's interpretation that the amendment gives individuals the right to keep loaded handguns in their homes for protection.
The 1976 D.C. handgun ban was enacted as the nation's capital response to increasing gun violence.
This decision erases years of lower court decisions to the contrary on the Second Amendment. It also contradicts the 1939 Supreme Court's decision, which tied gun possession to militia service. The Second Amendment states, "A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." No court has ever construed the Second Amendment to mean individuals are guaranteed "the right to possess and carry weapons in case of confrontation," as stated by Justice Antonin Scalia.
The Second Amendment was written more than two centuries ago. The framers of the Constitution allowed for constitutional changes and additions through referendum. They wisely knew that they could not anticipate future national changes that might make constitutional revision and change necessary to maintain the document's relevance to the times. Indeed, the framers could not anticipate ravages of urban crime and poverty or broken families and drug addiction or the interstate flow and glut of illegal handguns.
(Excerpt) Read more at gazette.net ...
The First Amendment was also written two centures ago ... wonder if this putz realizes gutting the Second opens the door to gut the remainder?
Where’s the barf alert? I don’t really do coffee in the morning. Reading that was like being woken up by an air raid siren.
And how did that work out Currie? Ever heard of the expression "Throwing gasoline on a fire"?
The Supreme Court decided, constitutionally, on a matter before the court. They correctly interpreted the meaning of the 2nd amendment which meaning is clear and applicable in today's world.
Peoipe have the right to own and bear arms in their own, and their country's defense. Not only is this pure common sense (which so many on the other side of the arguement are apparently lacking in), but statistically it is quite obviously the best course as regards crime.
So...try and use te constitutional means to change it (as your side has been trying for decades), but I will not hold my breath.
But, watch and see other liberal icon decisions change too...just as we are on the verg of doing so with another atrocious ruling, Roe V. Wade.
“The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” -Thomas Jefferson
This is certainly clear.
maintain the document's relevance to the times
It is relevant. As written. Because of this: Indeed, the framers could not anticipate ravages of urban crime and poverty or broken families and drug addiction or the interstate flow and glut of illegal handguns.
Has this guy NEVER read any history? Does he believe that guns were a fashion accessory in the 1700's? Taking guns away from citizens leaves them only in the hands of government and criminals and history speaks to that also.
“Where’s the barf alert? I don’t really do coffee in the morning. Reading that was like being woken up by an air raid siren.”
Sorry about that. Should have been a “Spew Chunks” alert!
Of course it's relevant. Times may change, but the human heart doesn't.
Uly Currie is Prince George’s County political hack as****e.
He is currently charged with accepting money for political influence peddling.
When his residence was raided in connection with the case -they found a bunch of pot.
He threw his kid under the bus - blamed it on him.
Well I say...more guns more ammo more range time!
Yes, they did. Are gun control advocates following that "referendum" process to pass a Constitutional Amendement to repeal the 2nd Amendment? Of course they aren't.
Hey Ulisses, I am “shocked and outraged” that you look at Japan’s crime rate and conclude its low due to gun control laws, but ignore Switzerland. You also ignore violent crime in England, a higher rate than the US has — the criminals over there apparently prefer knives.
How is the rate of violent crime in Vermont, NH, South Dakota, Alaska, states that believe in the Second Amendment?
You hypocrite, dishonest, sensationalistic rhetoric slinger politican....
Judges are to do the LAW, and the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. It is for the people to determine what the law should be. It is for judges to determine what it is.
“They wisely knew that they could not anticipate future national changes that might make constitutional revision and change necessary to maintain the document’s relevance to the times.”
Has this joker never heard of the amendment process? That’s what the framers did to allow for “updates” to the Constitution. But of course, knowing that such an update would go down to a blazing defeat when it comes to the leftists dream of disarming the nation, it becomes obvious that a few Marxist, activist justices should be allowed to amend the document all by themselves. The breathtaking dishonesty of the left.
This guy is an elected official and he wrote this panty-soiled tripe? Also, related to firearms and death-by-firearm, Liberals twist and reinterpret the facts so poorly that the actual numbers put out by the FBI annually mean absolutely nothing.
Just for that, somebody in Maryland should strike down a draconian gun law in his district. I’d love to watch him cry.
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