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To: Chad Fairbanks
"Well, I know that I have, but obviously the same can't be said for you."

That's a pretty silly thing to say, since you don't even know me.

Those that know me know that I have devoted hours to the cause of firearms rights, both in and out of the courtroom.
135 posted on 10/30/2003 3:28:05 PM PST by Henrietta
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To: Henrietta
Hey, if you are free to make assumptions, then so am I. If you don't like it, don't do it.
137 posted on 10/30/2003 3:33:38 PM PST by Chad Fairbanks (The Truth is to see The Gift)
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To: Henrietta
Henrietta, that is very noble of you to fight for firearms rights. However, anyone can fight for any given right that is near and dear to them.

Now, I'm not saying you don't, because I don't know you, but the true measure of a freedom fighter is how one carries oneself when faced with the rights of others when you have material incentive or personal motive to do so, other than on principle. Why fight against seat belt laws if I don't own a car? Why fight against helmet laws if I don't ride a motorcycle? Why fight against usury tax rates on cigarettes and bans in bars if I'm not a smoker? Why fight for Indians' rights under federally recognized treaties under Constitutional Law if I'm not an Indian? Because we have a Constitution that enumerates limited powers to the Federal and state governments, and those treaties were negotiated with sovereign tribes and ratified under those authorities, that's why.

Look what the US Senate posts on their origins and development page (boldface emphasis is mine):

The framers of the Constitution created the United States Senate to protect the rights of individual states and safeguard minority opinion in a system of government designed to give greater power to the national government. They modeled the Senate on governors' councils of the colonial era and on the state senates that had evolved since independence. The framers intended the Senate to be an independent body of responsible citizens who would share power with the president and the House of Representatives. James Madison, paraphrasing Edmund Randolph, explained in his notes that the Senate's role was "first to protect the people against their rulers [and] secondly to protect the people against the transient impressions into which they themselves might be led."

Heck, it's right there in black and white, the Senate is supposed to protect us from the whims of the tyranny of the majority (ourselves), the ignorant masses (ourselves), lynch mobs (ourselves), anti-smokers (ourselves, well, not me and at least a few others I know here), prohibitionists, etc, etc. Can't you see it?

The most telling phrases along the common thought of those wanting to abolish treaties I've seen so far was something to the effect that Indians should have to suffer just like the rest of us or why should Indians get treated special? Well, for one, their tribal leaders and representatives earned those rights and privileges for them at the bargaining table with the US Federal Government. What did your ancestors do, and where did they come from? Many of our ancestors fleed persecution or left their home countries for a better life or adventure. Our ancestors' governments didn't bargain for your ancestors' rights. You're living under a system that only we can influence to make better for us all if only we fight together for everyone's freedom against the tyranny of the majority instead of against each other.

140 posted on 10/30/2003 4:57:55 PM PST by lockjaw02 ("The phenomenon of corruption is like the garbage. It has to be removed daily." -Ignacio)
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