DC v. Heller - Montana prepares to secede

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[djf]

I guess we can all learn how to herd sheep or somethin!
Really, though, I’m digital now, and if I could get broadband in a cave somewhere, I could still work.
But it is nice to have things like kitchens and showers!

Hope 2008 finds you well and happy!
regards,
djf

[streetpreacher]

IOW, Property values there would soar.

[Rennes Templar]

“Don’t mess with Montana.”

Good idea. Montanans own, on average, eight guns per household.

[philled]

Skiing is great at Bridger! I’ve often thought it was cold but that just keeps the snow from getting sloppy...

[nicmarlo]

bttt

[wizr]

I’ll help build “THE FENCE”. Let me know when it warms up a bit.

[Quix]

THANKS.

Fascinating.

I hope they make a LOT more noise about this.

[paul51]

I think the feds would use force if necessary to stop a secession

I'd drive to Montana and line up with them (the people of Montana that is).

[Amendment10]

I haven't found one reference to the 14th A. in this thread so far (corrections welcome). The reason that the 14th A. must be mentioned in any meaningful discussion concerning the 2nd A. is as follows.

John Bingham, the main author of Sec. 1 of the 14th A., included the 2nd A. when he referenced the first eight amendments as examples of constitutional statutes containing privileges and immunities that the 14th A. applied to the states. So there is no doubt in my mind that the 2nd and 14th Amendments protect the personal right to keep and bear arms from both the federal and state governments as much as any other constitutional privilege and immunity protects other personal rights.

See the 2nd A. in the middle column of the following page from the Congressional Globe, a precursor to the Congressional Record.

http://tinyurl.com/y3ne4n

Note that the referenced page is dated for more than two years after the 14th A. was ratified. So Bingham was evidently reassuring his colleagues about the scope and purpose of the ratified 14th Amendment.

So bear in mind that what DC v Heller is essentially testing is how corrupt the Supreme Court is.

[El Gato]

And if it is over 2/3rds of the States, a very unsettling option becomes available - a Constitutional Convention could easily then be called.

So the Court can ignore the amended Constitution as they ignore the present version. Seems a lot of bother for very little result. Especially, as you say, when there is a big downside risk to the process.

[Publius]

And if it is over 2/3rds of the States, a very unsettling option becomes available - a Constitutional Convention could easily then be called... And that’s something for the very, very last resort in my book. Mainly because I don’t trust us to do one correctly unless there’s absolutely no other option.

Worry not. There are safeguards. Read the essay I wrote that was vetted by "Congressman Billybob", a constitutional lawwyer.

"A Convention for Proposing Amendments...as Part of This Constitution"

[Ancesthntr]

Rather than seceding, if the Court rules the wrong way and says that the 2nd is a “collective” right, then the legislature there should declare each person between the ages of 16 and 80 to be members of the state militia, subject to annual call-up. They should be required to show up bearing their own personal M4, M16, M14 or M249 (all full auto weapons). When the governor signs the bill, you now would have a few hundred thousand people eligible to purchase brand-new full autos.

[Ancesthntr]

Good idea. Montanans own, on average, eight guns per household.

So what's that make, about 8,000 guns in the whole state?

We Texans have fewer guns per household (reportedly about 2), but that makes for about 45 million guns - and that's probably low.

[matthew fuller]

"If Obama is elected, we all should secede. "

AMEN, BTTT!

[NewJerseyJoe]

> Doubt the Feds would invade to assert Federal law.

Not only that, but when you throw the Posse Comitatus Act into the fray, it would have the potential to be a very mixed-up ball of wax. For DC, anyway -- sounds like Montana has this situation understood quite well.

It would be great if MT Sec'y Johnson filed an additional amicus curiae, regarding the Compact, to supplement the arguments made in the brief initiated by Kay Bailey Hutchison.

[Republicanus_Tyrannus]

Thanks! That was an excellent and quite inspiring article.

[glorgau]

Montana (and I have a business there) brings to mind the phrase: “a whole lot of nothing”.

[NRA2BFree]

It’s definitely an option. Depending on the outcome, I may move there too.

[Inyo-Mono]

OK! Just let our part of California (The High Sierra) re-join Nevada.

[atomic_dog]

The per capita income is one of the lowest in the Union. In constant competition with Mississippi for lowest, if my memory serves.

If something like this were to happen it would be fascinating to watch how many corporations move their legal incorporation from Delaware to Montana.