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Justice Stevens: The five extra words that can fix the Second Amendment
Washington Post ^ | April 12, 2014 | John Paul Stevens

Posted on 04/12/2014 9:15:49 AM PDT by lilyramone

John Paul Stevens served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court from 1975 to 2010. This essay is excerpted from his new book, “Six Amendments: How and Why We Should Change the Constitution.”

Following the massacre of grammar-school children in Newtown, Conn., in December 2012, high-powered weapons have been used to kill innocent victims in more senseless public incidents. Those killings, however, are only a fragment of the total harm caused by the misuse of firearms. Each year, more than 30,000 people die in the United States in firearm-related incidents. Many of those deaths involve handguns.

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


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism
KEYWORDS: 2ndamendment; alreadyposted; banglist; gungrabbers; johnpaulstevens
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To: lilyramone

Mr Steven makes it crystal clear in this article that he is not competent to serve as a judge. Seems he can not figure out the difference between an actual statement of law like “the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed” and a listed motivation for having such a law “a well regulated militia being necessary for the security of a free state”. This is very very very simple and obvious. Its not really a thing rational competent people can disagree with. Unless he is a complete idiot, he is a fraud—either way it is disgraceful that he is a judge.


21 posted on 04/12/2014 9:31:21 AM PDT by AndyTheBear
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To: Chode

We are one scotus judge away from this a$$hole’s fix. He!!, Roberts may be the one.


22 posted on 04/12/2014 9:32:48 AM PDT by Eagles6 (Valley Forge Redux)
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To: lilyramone

Gerald Ford, you effin idiot


23 posted on 04/12/2014 9:33:13 AM PDT by A_Former_Democrat (Hey 2008, we told you so)
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To: Eagles6
i heard that...
24 posted on 04/12/2014 9:35:32 AM PDT by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -vvv- NO Pity for the LAZY - 86-44)
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To: GMMC0987

What a moron Stevens is.

IF the 2A was only referring to active militia service, IT WOULD BE UNNECESSARY.

Why ?

Easy: What is a militia without arms ?

It goes WITHOUT SAYING that a militia will have arms.

YOU DON’T NEED AND AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION TO DECLARE THAT MILITIAS WILL BE ARMED.

It therefore must be talking about the right to bear arms when NOT in a militia.

As it mentions an effective militia for the basis of its reasoning, it’s obviously saying, in modern parlance - since we know we need an effective militia, and that having one means we have to have people good at using arms, people will have the right to bear arms without restriction, so they can maintain their proficiency with them.


25 posted on 04/12/2014 9:38:34 AM PDT by PieterCasparzen (We have to fix things ourselves)
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To: lilyramone

Here are five words for the eminent Justice: F*** you, John Paul Stevens.


26 posted on 04/12/2014 9:42:15 AM PDT by Dr. Thorne ("How long, O Lord, holy and true?" - Rev. 6:10)
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To: lilyramone

Amazing how so many ‘smart’ people are so horribly ignorant. It’s not about defending the country from outsiders. It’s about citizens protecting themselves from tyranny.

Oh, and it isn’t about hunting for dinner either.


27 posted on 04/12/2014 9:43:25 AM PDT by ilgipper
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To: stanne
Liberals have a problem with the right to bear arms but they don't have a problem with all the phony rights they make up. Rights like, a women's right to kill her unborn baby, the right of homo marriage, the right to health care and the rights of millions of illegals who sneak across our borders to steal our jobs, money and identities.
28 posted on 04/12/2014 9:44:35 AM PDT by peeps36 (I'm Not A Racist, I Hate Douchebags of All Colors)
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To: GMMC0987
I think we owe him a favor. The rewording is so contrived and ridiculous. If the 2nd Amendment had been worded that way all along, when would it ever have been an issue? A member of the National Guard uses a gun to shoot a looter after a hurricane: Was it a Constitutional act or not?

What if there were amendments like:

The right of the people to engage in sexual intercourse within a marriage between a man and a woman shall not be infringed.

The liberals would go apes__t!

29 posted on 04/12/2014 9:46:12 AM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear
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To: lilyramone

“Repeal this and you’re screwed”


30 posted on 04/12/2014 9:48:30 AM PDT by VanDeKoik
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To: lilyramone
Each year,more than 1,120,775 people die in the United States in abortion-related incidents. Many of those deaths involve abortion.

He has no problem with that,he says it's a right in the U.S. Constitution.

31 posted on 04/12/2014 9:51:19 AM PDT by mdittmar
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To: lilyramone

HIs logic is all over the place. First he says we need to add five words to the 2nd amendment, then, knowing that won’t happen, he presses for further legislation by insisting that the Heller ruling didn’t over-rule Miller. Either argument is coherent; together they are nonsense. Why would an intelligent man be so stupid? Because he is, not a reasonable man, but an ideologue bent on deceit: How can any sane, reasonable man argue that an AR-15 is not a useful weapon for defending one’s home? Or that it’s not what a militiaman might train with?

Gun-grabbers always reach first for the guns most useful for defending one’s liberty and prosperity, and last for the guns used by criminals to deprive people of liberty and prosperity. Why is that?


32 posted on 04/12/2014 9:51:28 AM PDT by dangus
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To: who_would_fardels_bear

Even further, “between one man and one woman” . . . what would the Muslims and their liberal “allies” then say?


33 posted on 04/12/2014 9:52:29 AM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: lilyramone

Save those with colostomies.


34 posted on 04/12/2014 9:53:26 AM PDT by Olog-hai
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To: who_would_fardels_bear
Just some more wordsmithing...

"The right of the people to engage in sexual intercourse within a marriage between a man and a woman, being necessary for the general welfare of a free state, shall not be infringed."

35 posted on 04/12/2014 9:53:46 AM PDT by C210N (When people fear government there is tyranny; when government fears people there is liberty)
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To: lilyramone

Stevens......go read James Madison’s ‘Federalist 46’ then shut the F up!
Oh, yah, and go change your Depends. You stink.


36 posted on 04/12/2014 9:53:55 AM PDT by Sivad (NorCal red turf)
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To: lilyramone

A “well-regulated Militia” IMHO is simply one that conducts itself properly, i.e. has not devolved into a predatory gang.

The numbers are irrelevant. Your family is a militia to protect family members and the home.

Government organization and command is not mandated. Citizens have a right to organize for training and self-defense if they wish.

Any armed citizens who respect the rights of others and may or may not organize into a larger body constitute a well-regulated militia.

-Judge Heartwood

PS Judge Stevens you use many many words to get to your five words that nullify a basic Constitutional right.


37 posted on 04/12/2014 9:58:23 AM PDT by heartwood
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To: lilyramone

These judges and politicians should be hung for what they’ve done to our nation.

Give them a quick trial, and hang their A$$es!


38 posted on 04/12/2014 9:59:17 AM PDT by Artcore
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To: lepton

Are you sure about that? I don’t think that’s so.

But a very large percentage are gangbangers offing each other / people who dissed them. It’s a societal issue no one wants to talk about, so you get this general “more gun control” nonsense from many.


39 posted on 04/12/2014 9:59:32 AM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: Artcore

“These judges and politicians should be hung for what they’ve done to our nation.”

______________________________________________________

Just so the grammar police to blow a head gasket, I should’ve said HANGED!


40 posted on 04/12/2014 10:00:58 AM PDT by Artcore
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