Posted on 06/24/2009 4:58:20 AM PDT by marktwain
Washington, DC Monday, June 22, 2009
"Although Lautenberg probably did not expect it, an anti-gun bill he's sponsoring reveals a crisis for all Americans' civil rights in the whole government watch list program," says gun rights expert John M. Snyder.
"Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey says he wants to deny the right to buy a firearm to anyone who is on the government's terrorist watch list, but a gun may be sold to anyone who does not fall into one of several prohibited categories, and being on the list is not one of them," Snyder continued.
"While media coverage emphasizes that the Lautenberg proposal would enable the attorney general to block gun sales to anyone on the list, it generally fails to inform the public about the nature of the list itself"
Snyder said, "The list itself is a big mystery. To my knowledge, there has not yet been significant information revealed about it. Who is on it? Why? Who puts one on it? How does one get his or her name placed on it? How does one get off it? Can a government official place on it the names of men and women considered unfriendly to the government official? Can a journalist or anyone considered unfriendly to a government official be placed on it? Can this happen without the journalist's knowledge?
"Could one who supports, or opposes, gun rights, be placed on it? Could one who is completing his or her military service be placed on it? Could one who supports, or opposes, abortion, be placed on it? Could one who supports, or opposes, any given legislative program on any issue be placed on it?"
"Lautenberg is opening up to general scrutiny the watch list itself," said Snyder. "As it exists now, its potential for public abuse is incalculable. It's reminiscent of a star chamber. Its current manifestation is absolutely contrary to our American tradition of civil liberty, regardless of the specific political issue involved.
"Rather than give the attorney general the prerogative of placing gun owners or anyone he wants on the watch list, what Congress really needs to do is examine the watch list itself"
A former National Rifle Association magazine editor, Snyder is Public Affairs Director of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and Treasurer of the Second Amendment Foundation. Shotgun News recently named him the senior rights activist in Washington.
It does sound as if anyone can be denied 2nd amendment rights without due process. Even a public school graduate should understand that...
If it’s Lautenberg sponsored, he knows what he’s doing. He’s a slimeball, and no friend of the 2nd Amendment.
![](http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv39/fullersstuff/molonlabe-1.jpg?t=1242834374";)
Like it says, there is a fundamental problem with the list itself. Who is on it? How did they get on it? Who put them on it and why? If you are on the list, why are you on it and how do you get off it?
The list itself is unconstitutional. You can be put on it and forever barred from exercising certain rights with absolutely no legal recourse.
It’s a clever plan. Transparent, but clever. Pass this piece of legislative excrement and then put EVERYBODY on the watch list. VOILA! No more Second Amendment.
These anti-Constitutional assaults on our rights and pocketbooks must be stopped. And, it should start with running the career politicians out of DC, beginning with the next election cycle.
Yes, like the non-existent constitutional right to "privacy" in order to chop up a 9 month fetus.
The clearly enumerated right to own a gun, however, they want subject to some nebulus, arbitrary, error ridden, mystery "list" for which there exists no due process for getting on - or even getting off.
Well not everybody. Only political undesireables, like those mentioned on Napolitano's "terrorist" memo.
The list itself is unconstitutional if it deprives anyone of life, liberty, or property without due process.
Yep, I’d say that it does. I’d also say that they intend to make it even more egregiously unconstitutional.
With this list, you could be denied through NICS, and not told at all why.
2A bump
It's been that way since Clinton's Violence against Woman Act which allowed pissed off wives to have the gov take away hubbies guns. This will just eliminate the middleman(woman)
TC
I work with a guy who is on the “no fly” list - just for his last name... he doesn’t fly much. His parents were born here and he’s an all american type of guy! (Dallas Cowboys fan in the midst of all the Bills fans here in WNY)
DUE PROCESS IS OUR WAY!!!
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