Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Ken H
"If a government can violate unalienable rights, hasn't it become the tyrannical government that the Founders said the people had the right to overthrow?"

Yes.

But regulating the RKBA is not "violating unalienable rights". To begin with, the RKBA is not an unalienable right. Second, even the 5th Circuit in Emerson said that reasonable regulations may exist. Third, the Founding Fathers voted against applying the BOR to the states when drafting that document, leaving the protection of those rights up to the individual states.

What if you lived in a state where the vast majority of the citizens did not want guns, and there was nothing in their state constitution protecting the RKBA. Over a period of many years, the state first banned machine guns, then rifles, then shotguns, and finally all guns.

Do you then have the right, nay the duty, to gather up all your friends and like minded citizens and overthrow the state government?

615 posted on 08/08/2004 3:18:43 PM PDT by robertpaulsen
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 611 | View Replies ]


To: robertpaulsen
But regulating the RKBA is not "violating unalienable rights".

Your reasoning or case law? I'm not going argue reasoning and then have you switch to arguing case law, which we already know.

To begin with, the RKBA is not an unalienable right. Second, even the 5th Circuit in Emerson said that reasonable regulations may exist.

So you were arguing case law? We know what case law says.

Third, the Founding Fathers voted against applying the BOR to the states when drafting that document, leaving the protection of those rights up to the individual states.

This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.

The Second Amendment does not say "Congress shall make no law..." It says "shall not be infringed". The words "by the Federal government" do not appear in any copy I've read.

The Privileges and Immunities Clause should provide an immunity from State infringement. And I'm not talking case law here, but reasoning based on the text of your favorite Amendment.

What if you lived in a state where the vast majority of the citizens did not want guns, and there was nothing in their state constitution protecting the RKBA. Over a period of many years, the state first banned machine guns, then rifles, then shotguns, and finally all guns.

Do you then have the right, nay the duty, to gather up all your friends and like minded citizens and overthrow the state government?

There are options short of violent rebellion. Use the political process to change the laws. Civil disobedience by keeping a firearm in your home-- would you turn in your firearm if the State said you must? Refusing to convict citizens on arms violations. Getting more Justices like Clarence Thomas.

Remember, the Colonists put up with numerous usurpations and violations over the course of many years and tried many peaceful options before they acted.

So, no, I don't think the citizens of Illinois should start shooting the Sarah Bradys, the Million Moms, and like minded individuals (you can relax), but they should at least make the case that a constitutional right is being violated and refuse to obey such laws.

617 posted on 08/08/2004 5:09:44 PM PDT by Ken H
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 615 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson