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To: Database
Government is the controlled, and presumably just, infringement of rights in the service of preserving and defending the rights of others. So, to state categorically that recognition of a preexisting right implies that the right may never be infringed by the state seems mistaken.

Do you think a State may legitimately disarm its citizens?

Actually, all rights are inherent in the person, weather currently recognized or not. Preexistence should not be a criteria by which we elevate the importance of one right and in the converse, devalue some other right.

Is that not the current situation with the First and Fourth Amendments vs the Second?

What are your thoughts on whether USSC should incorporate the Second as well?

356 posted on 11/10/2004 8:42:06 PM PST by Ken H
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To: Ken H
Do you think a State may legitimately disarm its citizens?

Philosophically, I think it is unjust for the state to remove the means to defend oneself. I'm not a fan of prior restraint in general. Pragmatically, we have a system of government in which power is delegated to the state via a constitution. If the people of the state delegate authority to disarm its citizens then it is legally legitimate for the state to do so.

We usually react to this philosophic/pragmatic disparity by saying, "I don't agree with the law, but that's the law." We then go about changing that law in the political arena.

Database:
Preexistence should not be a criteria by which we elevate the importance of one right and in the converse, devalue some other right.

Ken H:
Is that not the current situation with the First and Fourth Amendments vs the Second?

My comments were given from a perspective of philosophy. Your description of the uneven treatment of the 1st and 4th vs 2nd ammendments is a practical issue of government and law. Is their treatment is unequal? Yes. Do I think that's right? No. However, the unequal treatment is certainly not based on whether the issues in the respective ammendments preexisted the BOR.

What are your thoughts on whether USSC should incorporate the Second as well?

The bill of rights is less a list of personal rights, as limitations on the federal government in order to protect individual rights in relation to federal government power. So, I view the incorporation of the BOR by the USSC an overstepping of its power. It is essentially making up laws.

358 posted on 11/10/2004 10:22:03 PM PST by Database
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