Iraq's Rebuke to the NRA

Slate.com ^ | 03/14/2003 | Timothy Noah

[jwalsh07]

Original intent is a particular interpretation doctrine, there are others

LOL, they really let you teach students? God bless America.

Have you ever heard of the Federalist Papers? The second amendment is clear, the right of the PEOPLE to keep and bear arms shall NOT be abridged. The second amendment is second for a reason and the 14th applies it to the states. Comprende'?

Would you care to address the problem you face of the liberal scholar Lawrence Tribe being on my side here Pitch?

[Pitchfork]

That's easy:

All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.


The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen every second year by the people of the several states..

To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.

[Jhoffa_]

I am still waiting, you know..

Where is this Federal power to be found in our Constitution?

And be specific please..

[jwalsh07]

Like religions, all make the claim they are the true way; all are probably wrong.

Let me guess, you're also opposed to "one nation under God".

[EternalVigilance]

Original intent is a particular interpretation doctrine, there are others. Like religions, all make the claim they are the true way; all are probably wrong.

I have small school children who are quite capable of understanding original intent merely by reading the writings of those who founded our republic.

Either your reading comprehension skills are not as good as theirs, or you are just plain too lazy to read.

[Dan from Michigan]

Original intent is a particular interpretation doctrine, there are others

The others are called judicial activism and it is where liberals and freedom haters use the courts to make law that can't be passed through state legislatures or congress. It's also a favorite weapon of ambulance chasing friends of yours like Geoff Fieger.

[hotpotato]

The obvious question raised by MacFarquhar's piece is how Iraq got to be, and remains, one of the world's most repressive police states when just about everyone is packing heat.

Well, Timothy Noah (writer) may not be aware of Saddam's chemical and biological weapons (paper, scissors, rock... chemical weapons outgun handguns, duh), but the Iraqi people are sure aware of them as indicated in the story about the run on birds in Iraq by a population that is anticipating their dictator will be using it on them.

[Dan from Michigan]

Either your reading comprehension skills are not as good as theirs, or you are just plain too lazy to read.

I'll pick answer C. Has his/her own agenda.

[RandallFlagg]

Well, I'll give ya this much. At least you're sticking around to engage a debate. Even though I don't agree with anything you've said so far, congrats!

[Jhoffa_]

Try harder, as that's at odds with the tenth..

Again, where is this federal "power"

and be specific..

[jwalsh07]

The court doesn't appear to share the NRA's veiw on the second ammendment at this time

You made this declarative statement and you are flat out wrong.

Now what I would like to know is if you teach your students this.

Do you?

[Jhoffa_]

Now what I would like to know is if you teach your students this.

Do you?

I frankly doubt he's a teacher..

[Dan from Michigan]

To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof.

That would be the powers listed in Article I, section VI. Those not listed there, fall under that pesky thing called the 10th Amendment.

[DAnconia55]

I always thought the "we need guns to defend ourselves from the government" argument was a load of nonsense and a refuge for those who wanted to avoid a cost-benefit discussion centered on the real issues of crime and violence.

Then you are extremely misinformed. The purpose of the 2nd Amendment is to allow the public to violently overthrow the government if it is ever necessary.

[Dan from Michigan]

I hope you're right.

[jwalsh07]

I frankly doubt he's a teacher..

I frankly doubt he's an American...

[Tennessee_Bob]

Well, sure, there's a gun in every household - but Uncle Saddam has all the ammo.

[piasa]

The constitution of course only has power when it is interpreted and implemented by the Court.

Wrong. The Constitution has no power at all- it is an inanimate scrap of vellum. Neither does the judiciary, although they are more animated. Ask the Cherokee about how powerful the courts are.

The government derives its powers from the consent of the governed, and maintains them only so long as the governed are willing to suffer it. Without cooperation, either willingly or through coercion, government will cease to exist no matter how impressive the scrap of paper called a constitution, no matter how much powder a judge puts on his wig or how authoritative his voice.

Without a police force or an army willing and able to execute the law (or dissidents) , a judge is just a lone man in a silly robe.

The problem with "teachers" is that they have little skill in discerning cold, hard reality from feel-good theory.

[EternalVigilance]

I teach american government!

God save us from people like you.

Obviously you aren't an NRA member. How about the NEA? Do you belong?

[Jhoffa_]

I hope you're right.

You and me both..

But if he is, I hope he lurks on FR.. Learns and comes back as one of us.

There's nothing the fury of a fresh convert.