The Ancient Right

NRO ^ | 30 june 08 | Timothy Wheeler

[rellimpank]

Heller affirms the Second Amendment.

The U.S. Supreme Court D.C. v. Heller decision now makes it clear to all — the Second Amendment affirms an individual right to own firearms for the purpose of self-defense. Even though the Court’s opinion leaves room for laws regulating guns in schools and government buildings, as well as restricting “dangerous and unusual weapons,” these exceptions should be considered just that — exceptions. The opinion devotes only three pages to them, toward the end of a lengthy discourse on the historical basis for the individual right interpretation.

[GLH3IL]

Excellent article. History is full of examples where governments disarmed their citizens to magnify and harden their oppressive control of those being governed. The Heller decision narrowly saved us from a similar fate, but the vote was too close...we are a long ay from being out of the woods on this issue.

[G.Mason]

ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE

[USS Alaska]

Even though the Court’s opinion leaves room for laws regulating guns in schools and government buildings, as well as restricting “dangerous and unusual weapons,”

Won't we just be amazed at what the left comes up with when they define "dangerous and unusual weapons".

If it fires multiple rounds, it's dangerous, can't have that.

It's a single shot 50 cal, it's unusual, can't have that.

It's a pistol that fires .410 shells, both dangerous and unusual, can't have that.

You can keep a cap and ball pistol {hammer removed} as long as the powder is in a different room.

[Spktyr]

Yeah, but if you actually read the decision, Scalia is all but *begging* people to bring cases (crafted with the same care as Heller) forward to decide *that* as well.

And since we got 5-4, with a possible Dem lock on the other two branches of government, we’re never going to get a better chance in the next 4-8 years.

[BuffaloJack]

I absolutely loved the one line,
“The rulers of big cities in 21st-century America, not to mention assorted despots around the world”

I cound not think of anything more appropriate. The mayors and city councils in most of our nation’s big cities are corrupt, power hungry and run like some third world banana republics.

[randita]

I had a disagreement with someone over the original intent of the 2nd Amendment. He said it was so that the government had a ready state militia with each person possessing his own firearm and I said it was for protection from a tyrannical, oppressive government. Maybe it was both.

Anyone who has studied the intent of this amendment care to weigh in?

Thanks.

[rdb3]

The mayors and city councils in most of our nation’s big cities are corrupt, power hungry and run like some third world banana republics.

Hello Cleveland, OH!

[Red Boots]

And by the way, the court didn’t find that the Second Amendment bestows a right to have guns, as Chemerinsky writes. The Court found that this right was pre-existing, a right that had been there all along. The Second Amendment simply declares that it “shall not be infringed.”

Key point of the article, bolded.

[An Old Man]

"The mayors and city councils in most of our nation’s big cities are corrupt, power hungry and run like some third world banana republics. "

That's not fair! I'll have you know that corruption, and a thirst for power are not limited to just our larger cities. Some of the most corrupt and power hungry mayors rule over town and villages as well; and,

they like bannas too.

[neverdem]

BTTT!

[BuffaloJack]

I apologize. I should have known better. I do know that many small towns and villages are just as corrupt as the big cities.