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To: William Tell
"Do I have a right to pick up a rock and defend myself from an attacker with it?"

If you are in fear of your life, cannot escape, and can justify using a weapon (the rock) against the attacker, then yes. But it is not an unalienable right.

You have an unalienable right to defend yourself. That right cannot be taken away by anyone, anytime, anywhere. It is yours. You own it. It was given to you by God.

You also have a right to pick up a weapon to defend yourself. The law defines those weapons and the conditions under which they may be used and extends a right to use them.

68 posted on 03/11/2004 1:16:37 PM PST by robertpaulsen
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To: robertpaulsen
William Tell asked: "Do I have a right to pick up a rock and defend myself from an attacker with it?"

If you are in fear of your life, cannot escape, and can justify using a weapon (the rock) against the attacker, then yes. But it is not an unalienable right.

Carrying and/or picking up a rock is an inalienable right, enumerated in our constitutions 2nd amendment.
In using it to defend yourself, you could be charged with a crime. Again, our BOR's governs how that alleged crime must be adjudicated.

You have an unalienable right to defend yourself. That right cannot be taken away by anyone, anytime, anywhere. It is yours. You own it. It was given to you by God. You also have a right to pick up a weapon to defend yourself. The law defines those weapons and the conditions under which they may be used and extends a right to use them.

Not so. The 2nd amendment forbids government infringements on the right to own, carry or pick up a weapon.
How you then use them is subject to criminal law.
And, -- the criminal law itself is subject to our BOR's.

Paulsen, this is elementary logic on the rule of constitutional law. Why do you need it explained to you?

74 posted on 03/11/2004 2:06:11 PM PST by tpaine (I'm trying to be 'Mr Nice Guy', but the U.S. Constitution defines conservatism; - not the GOP.')
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