Posted on 07/15/2009 12:38:36 PM PDT by VirginiaConstitutionalist
Libertarians take aim at Sotomayor’s anti-gun stance
Nominee “can’t think” of a right of self-defense
WASHINGTON -- America’s third largest party reiterated its opposition Wednesday to the Supreme Court nomination of federal judge Sonia Sotomayor after the nominee refused to give a firm answer on whether individuals have the right of self-defense.
“Is there a constitutional right to self-defense?” Sotomayor asked when questioned by Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) whether or not the Constitution guaranteed him the right of self-defense. “ I can’t think of one. I could be wrong.”
“Whether you agree with her position or not, Judge Sotomayor has had no problem stating that things not directly found in the Constitution are ‘settled law.’ That’s why it’s troubling that when confronted with a constitutionally-enshrined principle she disagrees with, the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of one’s rights, things are suddenly muddled and up for debate,” said Donny Ferguson, Libertarian National Committee Communications Director.
“The Libertarian Party is the only party that never compromises in its defense of our Second Amendment-guaranteed rights. That’s why we have opposed Judge Sotomayor’s nomination from the moment we reviewed her troubling anti-gun record. Judge Sotomayor’s answers Wednesday further show she believes the law should flow from her own personal biases and not the literal wording of the Constitution,” said Ferguson.
Judge Sotomayor is the latest in a long line of hardline anti-gun activists nominated by President Obama to government positions where they would have the power to infringe on gun rights. Libertarians also opposed the nominations of anti-gun Attorney General Eric Holder and anti-gun State Department legal adviser Harold Koh.
“The Libertarian Party will hold accountable at the ballot box any senator who votes to confirm Judge Sotomayor. America’s nearly 90 million gun owners come from all walks of life and political beliefs – and they decide their vote on this issue. Libertarians look forward to speaking with them about the LP’s fundamental belief in gun rights, and their senator’s voting record on it,” said Ferguson.
For more information on this issue, or to arrange an interview with the Libertarian Party, please call Director of Communications Donny Ferguson at 703-200-3669 or 202-333-0008, x. 225, or email Donny.Ferguson@lp.org.
The Libertarian Party is America's third-largest political party, founded in 1971 as an alternative to the two main political parties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party by visiting http://www.LP.org. The Libertarian Party proudly stands for smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom.
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Constitutional Right to self-defense? I’d say the right to self-defense is one of those self-evident unalienable rights, and as such is preeminent above any “Constitutional” rights. It is a natural right, one that we don’t even need the Constitution to assert for ur.
Just like the right to keep and bear arms, the right of self defense is a God given right.
Has anyone attempted to make an equal right to defend one’s self argument based on the unfair advantage most women have in self defense in the absence of a firearm? Just wondering if that makes any sense whatsoever to bring up the inherent disadvantage for the “weaker” sex due to strength and size.
Sonia S!
She’s the one!
We all know she’s anti-gun!
It has been argued that women, being weaker then their assailants, should not have the same disparity of force standards as two men typically would. I can’t remember cases off of the top of my head...but then I’m not a lawyer.
. . . only Obama's security force and the drug gangs that pay them off will have guns.
In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated
Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million educated people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million.
It has now been 12 months since gun owners in Australia were forced by new law to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed by their own Government, a program costing Australia taxpayers more than $500 million dollars.
The first year results are now in:
List of 7 items:
Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2 percent.
Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6 percent.
Australia-wide, armed robberies are up 44 percent (yes, 44 percent)!
In the state of Victoria alone, homicides with firearms are now up 300 percent. Note that while the law-abiding citizens turned them in, the criminals did not, and criminals still possess their guns!
While figures over the previous 25 years showed a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms, this has changed drastically upward in the past 12 months, since criminals now are guaranteed that their prey is unarmed.
There has also been a dramatic increase in break-ins and assaults of the ELDERLY.
Australian politicians are at a loss to explain how public safety has decreased, after such monumental effort, and expense was expended in successfully ridding Australian society of guns.
The Australian experience and the other historical facts above prove it.
You won’t see this data on the US evening news, or hear politicians disseminating this information.
Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws adversely affect only the law-abiding citizens.
Take note my fellow Americans, before it’s too late!
The next time someone talks in favor of gun control, please remind them of this history lesson.
With guns, we are ‘citizens’.. Without them, we are ‘subjects’.
During WWII the Japanese decided not to invade America because they knew most Americans were ARMED!
If you value your freedom, please spread this anti-gun control message to all of your friends.
The purpose of fighting is to win.
There is no possible victory in defense.
The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more important than either.
The final weapon is the brain.
All else is supplemental.
SWITZERLAND ISSUES EVERY HOUSEHOLD A GUN!
SWITZERLAND‘S GOVERNMENT TRAINS EVERY ADULT THEY ISSUE A RIFLE.
SWITZERLAND HAS THE LOWEST GUN RELATED CRIME RATE OF ANY CIVILIZED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!!!
IT’S A NO BRAINER!
STE=Q
Sotomayor But .. that ..... is sort of an abstract question with no .. no particular meaning to me ...
Huh? A citizen actually having to defending himself has no particular meaning and is an abstract question to her?
According to her there are other ways to defend yourself other than using a gun ....
Like most third parties, it helps elect rats.
“Like most third parties, it helps elect rats.”
So do the limp-wristed, useless, pandering members of the GOP.
All the LP and Perotista weirdos did was get rats elected. We have a two party system. Deal with it.
The lib party is a lot like PETA, always looking for a little publicity.
Why don’t they go after someone for being pro-abortion or for trying to open up the military to full homosexuality or being for Gay marriage or Gay adoption or for being for open borders or for many other things that would reveal the dark, ugly, secrets behind their surface agenda.
Yes, we do have a two-party system. And right now, both parties stink...badly. That’s why a lot of people don’t bother voting. I don’t blame them.
The leadership of the GOP has become completely corrupted. Big words, little action. Might as well replace the (R) with a (D) for most of those clowns.
Still, the Socialists received zero electoral votes. That was unsatisfactory. A group of intellectuals, the “Fellow Travelers” of infamy rationally determined that despite the truth of socialism, it would never be implemented outside the dominant two party system.
They decided to take over the Democrat Party. With the 1929 crash and the ascendancy of FDR, their timing could not have been better. The Fellow Travelers found various political posts to serve in the new administration and served their cause well.
The GOP was conservative before. It can be conservative again. Mark Levin's Conservative Manifesto should be our road map.
Spending ones time and effort with third parties is just self abuse.
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