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Why We the People still need the Second Amendment
Sierra Times ^ | Ted Lang

Posted on 06/14/2002 8:42:42 AM PDT by Sir Gawain

Why We the People still need the Second Amendment
By Ted Lang
©
Published 06. 13. 02 at 17:24 Sierra Time

xx

The definition of political corruption, to be complete, should not only include bribe-taking, malfeasance, political favoritism and fraud, but also lying, favoring one class of citizens over another, and abuse of power without penalty or liability. New Jersey, with its outrageously high taxes, its left-wing media, and a state government and congressional delegation constantly advancing the disarmament of law-abiding citizens, offers a notable example as to why people still need the "force insurance" provided by the Second Amendment.

More than a decade ago, in the college town of Montclair, New Jersey, a former factory site was found to have a very high level of contaminant. Soil in the vicinity of the factory contained radioactive materials. In short, the soil in and around the former factory site was extremely polluted.

New Jersey law forbids the sale of real estate from one party to another until an environmental assessment is first performed, but the abandonment of this property either occurred long before a transfer of ownership was contemplated, or the owning entity simply went bankrupt. Either way, then-Governor Thomas Kean, a Republican, was stuck with making the decision on how to rid the area of this polluted, contaminated soil.

The decision was not merely a matter of the best and most cost effective way to dispose of this huge amount of contaminated soil, but how to do so with the least political cost to himself.

The first principle of American politics is acquisition of power; the second is retaining it. Service to the people is never a consideration. Public service is a myth – it’s always about money and power. Expanding government power is to the politician’s advantage, so cutting taxes is anathema to his or her success.

Increasing spending expands the government’s power base, and deferring payment to the piper can be accomplished by cutting taxes, raiding other government funds, and then handing the bill to future generations and politicians by floating government bonds. Hence, government debt and its attendant interest – the philosophy and political expediency employed by another New Jersey left-wing Republican, Christie Todd Whitman.

Kean’s immediate problem was to remove the soil, and then, transport it to the least costly nearby site. The site he selected was Lafayette, in the northwest quadrant of the State, identified as Hamm’s Landfill.

But there was a problem. Citizens were becoming increasingly aware of the environmental ramifications of both private and public sector decisions involving expeditious solutions that pass problems on to the future. Hamm’s Landfill was right in the middle of Sussex County farmland, where onions, corn, and other agricultural and therefore pollutant-sensitive farm produce could provide a greater risk to many more people than number Kean’s political constituents in Montclair.

But Kean remained firm in his resolve, and the public be damned. The Republican-hating New Jersey media championed the position of the Sussex County residents, who expressed their staunch resistance to the Jersey Emperor’s plan. As is usually the case with lying tyrants, the governor employed bureaubabble. He advised public advocates and the newspapers to consult with the Department of Environmental Protection [NJDEP], and they in turn referred all questions to the governor. Kean announced a truck convoy would transport the polluted soil to Hamm’s.

Citizens advised the emperor that they would form human chains to block the convoy. Kean advised that the State Police would escort the trucks and arrest any citizens who resisted allowing the State of New Jersey to poison them. And here’s where the Second Amendment comes in; the citizens then made a general public announcement that snipers armed with rifles would target any trucker that tried to transport the poisons to destroy their farmland. A local police department said they would join with the people in their resistance.

Facing the prospect of igniting a civil war, Kean relented. For months and months, a barge with the contaminated soil sailed the high seas in search of a dumping ground. Nevada finally accepted the soil.

This provides yet another basis explaining why politicians, especially the corrupt kind who wish to subvert all of the people’s rights, hate the Second Amendment. I include as corrupt any politician that refuses to abide by the Constitution. They are violating their oaths of office.

This New Jersey standoff is being repeated in Nevada and South Carolina with the federal government, and once again, lesser government and the people are making a difference.

Shortly after succeeding Kean as Governor of New Jersey, Democrat Jim Florio introduced a draconian "assault rifle" ban. I wonder why.



TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS: banglist
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1 posted on 06/14/2002 8:42:42 AM PDT by Sir Gawain
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To: *bang_list; Victoria Delsoul; Travis McGee; Squantos; harpseal; sit-rep; Noumenon; DCBryan1...
±
2 posted on 06/14/2002 8:43:16 AM PDT by Sir Gawain
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To: Sir Gawain
The first principle of American politics is acquisition of power; the second is retaining it. Service to the people is never a consideration. Public service is a myth – it’s always about money and power.... [P]oliticians, especially the corrupt kind who wish to subvert all of the people’s rights, hate the Second Amendment. I include as corrupt any politician that refuses to abide by the Constitution. They are violating their oaths of office.

Well that's certainly "telling it like it is." No mincing of words there...and totally spot-on. Thanks for a great post Sir Gawain.

3 posted on 06/14/2002 9:44:18 AM PDT by betty boop
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To: Sir Gawain
...the citizens then made a general public announcement that snipers armed with rifles would target any trucker that tried to transport the poisons to destroy their farmland.

Facing the prospect of igniting a civil war, Kean relented.

I guess that is how to get a politicians attention.

4 posted on 06/14/2002 10:58:03 AM PDT by MileHi
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To: Sir Gawain
This provides yet another basis explaining why politicians, especially the corrupt kind who wish to subvert all of the people’s rights, hate the Second Amendment. I include as corrupt any politician that refuses to abide by the Constitution. They are violating their oaths of office.

My sentiments exactly.

5 posted on 06/14/2002 11:14:32 AM PDT by Victoria Delsoul
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To: Sir Gawain
Guns Save Lives !!

Freedom Is Worth Fighting For !!

An Armed Citizen, Is A Safe Citizen !!

No Guns, No Rights !!

6 posted on 06/14/2002 11:16:51 AM PDT by blackie
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To: Sir Gawain
I wonder if many politicians were school-yard bullies? They only seem to respect one thing!
7 posted on 06/14/2002 11:36:52 AM PDT by TexasRepublic
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To: ziva
thanks for the ping.
8 posted on 06/14/2002 11:43:14 AM PDT by Coleus
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To: TexasRepublic
They were school yard bullies. Now they think of themselves as royalty. They are the chosen few; we are the common folk. Don't believe it? Get close to someone who is an elected official -- at any level. It is true.
9 posted on 06/14/2002 11:43:28 AM PDT by Jerrybob
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To: Jerrybob
Nah, they weren't schoolyard bullies, they were the loser kids that got beat up and never had a girlfriend so they went to law school to "get even" by bullying everybody else and scoreing with big hair interns when they grew up.
10 posted on 06/14/2002 11:58:51 AM PDT by rageaholic
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To: Sir Gawain
HK USP bang! Good post.
11 posted on 06/14/2002 1:11:48 PM PDT by Freemeorkillme
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To: Sir Gawain
And here’s where the Second Amendment comes in; the citizens then made a general public announcement that snipers armed with rifles would target any trucker that tried to transport the poisons to destroy their farmland.

Rule 308


12 posted on 06/14/2002 1:37:41 PM PDT by Travis McGee
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To: Jerrybob
They are the chosen few; we are the common folk.

I agree with your post. I have been close to a number of them. However, I must ask you this:

Who chooses them?

13 posted on 06/14/2002 1:54:48 PM PDT by Pistol
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To: Sir Gawain
"For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security."

-- Thomas Jefferson

14 posted on 06/14/2002 4:23:10 PM PDT by 2nd_Amendment_Defender
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To: Sir Gawain
BULLS EYE !
15 posted on 06/14/2002 7:47:31 PM PDT by lawdog
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To: Travis McGee
what is rule 308?
16 posted on 06/17/2002 3:59:41 PM PDT by Coleus
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To: Sir Gawain
Thanks for the post, see how soon we forget. I vaguely remeber the issue and never heard of the gun-rights case. I think having the mayor and police on the side of the residents helped.

I wonder how the Sierra Times developed this story?

17 posted on 06/17/2002 4:01:50 PM PDT by Coleus
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To: betty boop
The people in Lafayette pay no property taxes.
18 posted on 06/17/2002 4:04:14 PM PDT by Coleus
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To: Coleus
what is rule 308?

Here are the main points that constitute rule 308.


19 posted on 06/17/2002 4:27:37 PM PDT by Hoosier Patriot
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To: Hoosier Patriot
I like that rule.
20 posted on 06/17/2002 4:44:22 PM PDT by Coleus
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