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Delaware Judge Holds that State Constitution Does not Apply in State Parks, Forests
Gun Watch ^ | 25 December, 2016 | Dean Weingarten

Posted on 12/31/2016 4:19:09 AM PST by marktwain

Judge T. Henley Graves

Image from capegazette.com

A year ago, the Bridgeport Rifle and Pistol Club filed suit against the state against the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. The suit is designed to enforce Article 1, Section 20 of Delaware's Constitution. From ballotpedia.com:
A person has the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of self, family, home and State, and for hunting and recreational use.
The departments mentioned ban the possession of guns from public parks and state forests, unless the person is actually hunting with a valid hunting license.
From the seafordstar.com:
This is not the club s first involvement in a lawsuit. It filed a brief in support of a 2010 complaint by two residents against the Wilmington Housing Authority and the authority s ban on guns in common areas of its public housing complexes. In 2014, the Delaware Supreme Court decided that the ban was unlawful under Delaware s Constitution. Also unlawful, the court decision said, was the authority s requirement that residents who owned guns have any permit or license available at all times for inspection. 

We were successful in ensuring that people who live in public housing have the same rights as everyone else, Hague said.
Winning the current suit would benefit people who travel to Sussex County to participate in shooting competitions at the rifle club, Hague said: We have a lot of competitors who like to go camping. They like to come down for a weekend, attend a match and then camp at Trap Pond State Park.
It would seem the suit is a slam dunk. The constitutional provision is clear. Precedent has been established by a previous state supreme court decision. But the local Superior Court Judge was not convinced.
From wral.com:
On Friday, a Superior Court judge ruled in favor of the state, saying the regulations do not violate Delaware's Constitution.

"The regulations do not run afoul of the Delaware Constitution, defendants were not pre-empted by the General Assembly in enacting the regulations, and defendants did not exceed the scope of the authority granted to them by statute in promulgating the regulations" wrote Judge T. Henley Graves.


The logic here seems to be that the regulatory agencies were not stopped from violating the state constitution by the legislature, when the regulations were passed. Therefore the agencies did not exceed the authority given to them by the General Assembly?

Huh. What? The judge explained further:
The judge concluded that the state agencies have an important governmental objective of keeping the public safe from the potential harm of firearms in parks and forests.
So, a constitutional provision that guarantees the right to protect yourself with arms, can be overridden by a regulatory agency because the agency has an important government objective of "keeping the public safe from the potential harm of firearms"?

The Bridgeville Rifle & Pistol Club's facebook page, and the Delaware State Sportsmen's Association's webpage do not have any response to the judge's decision yet.

Judge Graves may believe the decision is up to a higher level court than his. I expect that an appeal will be filed.

  ©2016 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included. 

 Link to Gun Watch


TOPICS: Government; Politics; Society
KEYWORDS: banglist; bearingarms; de; forests
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Another judge that is unwilling to uphold the State Constitution.
1 posted on 12/31/2016 4:19:09 AM PST by marktwain
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To: marktwain

A new sheriff is in town and I believe he has the power to fire these rebels


2 posted on 12/31/2016 4:23:51 AM PST by knarf (I say things that are true, I have no proof, but they're true)
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To: knarf

If you’re talking about Trump, his authority does not extend to state officials.


3 posted on 12/31/2016 4:32:22 AM PST by SauronOfMordor (Socialists want YOUR wealth redistributed, never THEIRS!)
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To: SauronOfMordor

If you’re talking about Trump, his authority does not extend to state officials.


Trump’s AG can arrest and prosecute state officials who violate civil rights under the color of law.


4 posted on 12/31/2016 4:35:43 AM PST by marktwain
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To: marktwain

Can he be voted out?


5 posted on 12/31/2016 4:40:11 AM PST by stars & stripes forever (Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalm 33:12)
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To: marktwain

So we should hope that the fed gov starts enforcing 50 sets of state laws now? No thanks. I’d prefer it if the state citizens took responsibility for their own state’s politics.

TC


6 posted on 12/31/2016 4:47:06 AM PST by Pentagon Leatherneck
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To: stars & stripes forever

He should be...


7 posted on 12/31/2016 4:51:24 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (Baseball players, gangsters and musicians are remembered. But journalists are forgotten.)
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To: marktwain

Precedent? Is it no wonder we are no longer the Republic of our Founding?

Not ONE dares to say 1+1 != 3. There is *NO* way to battle against these ‘rules’, where logic and reason has no place.

When the boxcars come around again, all they’ve got to advertise will be “Free tixs to NFL Tonight\Dancing w/ Stars\Tupac” and they’ll voluntary lines of waiting.


8 posted on 12/31/2016 4:52:22 AM PST by i_robot73 ("A man chooses. A slave obeys." - Andrew Ryan)
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To: marktwain

In many states it is illegal to take a gun into a “public” building. Here in Reno the Crossroads Gun Show is held at the Convention Center which is a gun free zone. Not suppose to CC there. Most do it anyway. It is a quasi .gov agency.

SECTION 25
WEAPONS & CONCEALED HANDGUNS
A. In accordance with provisions of the Nevada Revised Statutes and Washoe County Codes, it is the policy of the RSCVA that
handguns and other weapons are strictly prohibited in the RSCC. Individuals who fail to comply with this prohibition, or
otherwise violate penal laws with respect to carrying a handgun or other weapon, are subject to immediate arrest and
prosecution under NRS Chapter 202.3673.
B. This prohibition applies to all persons including concealed handgun Licensees, but does not apply to licensed law enforcement
officers.


9 posted on 12/31/2016 4:53:28 AM PST by mad_as_he$$ ("It's a war against humanity!" Donald J. Trump)
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To: marktwain

Very interesting. Thanks for posting. Ghastly Graves ALERT!


10 posted on 12/31/2016 4:54:19 AM PST by PGalt (CONGRATULATIONS Donald J. Trump)
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To: PGalt

So many judges are fools.


11 posted on 12/31/2016 5:53:49 AM PST by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp?.)
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To: marktwain
Trump’s AG can arrest and prosecute state officials who violate civil rights under the color of law.

One place Trump does have authority is the local government of the District of Columbia which is entirely a creation of federal statute, being, not a state, but the governing body of the constitutionally provided federal seat of government.

12 posted on 12/31/2016 6:16:10 AM PST by AndyJackson
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To: marktwain

This seditious dimwit just violated his oath to the Constitution. Impeach him and ship his @ss to North Korea...where he’ll be much happier.


13 posted on 12/31/2016 6:47:22 AM PST by WKUHilltopper (WKU 2016 Boca Raton Bowl Champions)
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To: marktwain
With what we have passing for Judges today, that is not surprising to me at all. In fact, if one takes the time to read decisions Judges have made Nationwide, this is one of the saner ones, as ridiculous as it is.
14 posted on 12/31/2016 6:54:07 AM PST by sport
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To: marktwain

Define “valid.”

red


15 posted on 12/31/2016 6:55:42 AM PST by Redwood71
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To: AndyJackson
One place Trump does have authority is the local government of the District of Columbia

Actually, the President has NO authority over DC (except the authority to veto laws).

CONGRESS has the power to legislate "in all cases whatsoever" arising in the District of Columbia. That phrase "in all cases whatsoever" had a special meaning to the Founder's generation, because, as Paine wrote in the American Crisis, "Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER," and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth".

All of the absurd limitations on firearms in DC could be ended tomorrow by simple legislation.

16 posted on 12/31/2016 6:56:11 AM PST by Jim Noble (Die Gedanken sind Frei)
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To: Redwood71

Define “valid.”

legally binding due to having been executed in compliance with the law.
“a valid contract”


17 posted on 12/31/2016 7:01:25 AM PST by marktwain
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To: Jim Noble
the President has NO authority over DC.

"The executive power shall be vested in the President."

D.C. Judges are appointed by the President.

There is no need for new law. We already have court decisions on the right to bear arms. The district feels free to ignore shall issue orders from the federal courts.

18 posted on 12/31/2016 7:37:16 AM PST by AndyJackson
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To: marktwain

so lemme ask this- if a state can arbitrarily ban the second amendment and ignore national constitution like that- can they also say “We will no longer allow people of color to walk in our parks and forests”? Or “Women are no longer allowed to hold jobs in our state or vote in elections”?


19 posted on 12/31/2016 9:31:59 AM PST by Bob434
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To: Bob434

Of course they can!

They haven’t because it goes against their agenda to do so at the moment!

The Constitution sets limits on what the State can do. “Progressives” hate that above all else, because they worship the State as God.

Wilson arbitrarily segregated the Military, because Racism was “in” as a “Progressive” cause at the time.

Obama has arbitrarily demanded that the mentally ill people known as “Transgender”, be treated exactly the same as normal men and women in the military, because it is a “Progressive” cause at this time.

It is all about the arbitrary abuse of power without limit. That is what “Progressives” have always demanded.

Take to the logical level, and you get Nazism, Communism, Cuba, and Venezuela. Because if more than one person has power, the others with power are a limit on their power.

Eventually one “strong man” ends up having as unlimited of power as he can accumulate.


20 posted on 12/31/2016 10:50:26 AM PST by marktwain
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