Posted on 05/27/2008 7:51:39 AM PDT by Erik Latranyi
The Supreme Court is meeting to issue opinions and announce whether it has accepted any new cases.
Major cases still undecided include the rights of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, the ban on handguns in Washington, D.C., and whether people convicted of raping children can be given the death penalty.
The court's term ends in late June.
Cordially,
Why would the Founding Fathers, who just finished a war* of independence against the reigning superpower, write a recognition of a right of the people (individual & collective) to be armed for the purpose of creating a militia for the defence of self, state & nation against enemies both foreign AND domestic (fed. gov't included if appropriate), yet do so with the intent that only small/individual arms be available to those defending the essence of this country - the people and the Constitution??? You're basically contending that Jefferson et al said "Yeah, now that THAT conflict is over with at great cost to ourselves as citizens, let's make sure that if it has to be done again, the oppressive tyrranical gov't of the future will be able to prevent our grandchildren from having all the tools necessary to do so." Riiiiight.
(* - Tools of that war included cannon, mortars, battleships, and even submarines.)
If there are legitimate, Constitutionally-protected reasons for owning it, heck yeah there's something wrong with criminalizing possession thereof.
Some things - like counterfeit money - have absolutely no legitimate purpose, so mere possession constitutes presumptive criminal intent.
Are you saying that the citizens of Washington, DC, through their elected representatives, should not be allowed to decide this issue?
Not when a fundamental right is involved. The right to life, ergo the right to defend that life, ergo right to possess suitable tools to defend that life, is fundamental and not subject to the whims of a majority or oligarchy. That Mr. Heller carries arms to defend the lives of government agents, but cannot carry the very same arms to defend his own life, is noxious.
There’s a difference between “reckless endangerment” and “simple possession”.
Tragic. Sigh...
Good point. They wouldn't. There is no reason to limit the definition of arms. There is nothing in the second amendment which allows this.
Yup, fits with his MO.
“Vincent Freeman” is the main character in the movie “Gattaca”, who is a genetic misfit who takes on someone else’s DNA persona to overcome sociopolitical genetic discrimination - misrepresenting himself in aspirations of greatness.
...which is comparable to his prior handle...
“Robert Paulsen” is a character in the movie “Fight Club”, who is an emasculated social reject who joins an anarchistic gang to overcome sociopolitical personality discrimination - martyring himself in aspirations of greatness.
Nice.
Welcome back, RP. Door’s thataway.
When did that happen? Considering what he got by with, it must have been good (bad?).
Paulsen’s last extant post was on April 4.
His last post that I’m aware of (deleted before I saw it, I saw part of it quoted in a reply) made reference, as I recall, to homophobia, chickens or chicken droppings, and sex acts.
Meaning that an illegal alien, a prisoner, a foreign exchange student, one who is mentally ill, a child -- all may possess suitable tools to defend their lives?
I agree that they all have the God-given inalienable right to self defense. No question. But where did you come up with this "suitable tools" definition?
"If there are legitimate, Constitutionally-protected reasons for owning it, heck yeah there's something wrong with criminalizing possession thereof."
Like fuel oil and fertilizer? Box cutters? Things like that?
It would seem to me that our constitution would allow the people, through their elected representatives, to regulate those objects or activities that they deem harmful to the general public. Even if you think they're wrong. Even if they ARE wrong.
Meaning that an illegal alien, a prisoner, a foreign exchange student, one who is mentally ill, a child -- all may possess suitable tools to defend their lives?
Illegal aliens and foreign exchange students are not citizens. Prisoners and the mentally ill are particular individuals who have lost some of their rights for specific reasons in order to protect society at large from their actions. Hardly the same as denying rights to citizens wholesale.
Like fuel oil and fertilizer? Box cutters? Things like that?
It would seem to me that our constitution would allow the people, through their elected representatives, to regulate those objects or activities that they deem harmful to the general public. Even if you think they're wrong. Even if they ARE wrong.
I can own all of those items. I cannot use them to commit crimes. And the constitution does not protect the tyranny of the majority, it protects against it. But then you knew that, you just don't like it.
Go away, robertpaulsen/vincentfreeman/whateverhighmindedlosersnameyoulltakeonnext.
He doesn’t understand the concept of “strict scrutiny”.
Or if we want to have our tanks circle the Statehouse in a monster tank rally ... the right of the People to peacefully assemble...
That absolutely is paulsen. Blatantly using the same old trolling ‘arguments’.
I find it amusing that he hates gun rights so much that he has to retread just to bash it some more.
Utter BS. Read about the War between the States.
Lincoln proved that even with half the standing Armies, the central government is too powerful for the individual citizen to threaten. Never gonna happen again.
Personal firearms -are- going to be useful for self-protection and order when a Sichuan style earthquake happens.
Go ask Mrs. Weaver, or Randy Weaver's son, how well a lawyer can defend against an unreasonable search. There are tens of thousands of people who have had their cash or cars confiscated, never to be returned, on the false premise that it was involved in a crime. No charges placed upon the person, only the property.
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