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To: af_vet_1981
They will be deterred if we enforce reasonable laws. It is reasonable to restrict the sale and trade in certain arms of war. Only an extremist would argue otherwise.

Like folks were detered by prohibition? Like the Iraqies were detered by UN "sanctions". Like the 9-11 terrorists were detered by laws against highjacking aircraft. Like the Germans were detered by the treaty that ended WW-I. That kind of deterance?

If the second amendment stands for any kind of deterance, it is deterance of power hunger people in government. Read what the founders had to say on the subject. They were big fans of what is now called disparagingly the "insurrectionist theory". The Second Amendment doesn't say "shall not be infringed unless it is reasonable to do so." And who gets to decide what is reasonable? You? Some hoplophobic soccer mom who thinks a .223 is a "high powered" weapon of mass destructioon? I think not.

Can people be punished for misue of arms? Of course they can, just as they can punished for inciting to riot or shouting fire in a theater when there is no fire. But prior restraint is just not allowed by the Bill of Rights. I believe it was well put by the Arkansas Surpeme Court in the case of , when it said:

" But to prohibit the citizen from wearing or carrying a war arm, except upon his own premises or when on a journey traveling through the country with baggage, or when acting as or in aid of an officer, is an unwarranted restriction upon his constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege."

Notice they said "war arms", not guns with "legitimate" (one might say reasonable) sporting purposes.

If you don't like the notion, work to get the Constitutional provisions amended, but don't tell me how "reasonable" you are being when you violate, or advocate that others do it in your stead, what you swore to uphold.

465 posted on 11/02/2003 12:01:37 AM PST by El Gato (Federal Judges can twist the Constitution into anything.. Or so they think.)
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To: El Gato
Sorry about the double post. I'm using my daughters computer and she has things set a bit differently than I'm used to.
466 posted on 11/02/2003 12:02:38 AM PST by El Gato (Federal Judges can twist the Constitution into anything.. Or so they think.)
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To: El Gato
But prior restraint is just not allowed by the Bill of Rights.

Again your entire position is wrong-wing, extremist, and only serves to give the liberals and socialists more power as you portray yourself as fixated on some theoretical war against the legimate government of the United States. You want to have WMDs, tanks, aircraft so you can decide at some point to fight the government. It is wrong. It is madness and you should not have any weapons.

470 posted on 11/02/2003 9:39:01 AM PST by af_vet_1981
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