Am I 'skating near the legal edge of making threats of violence'?

Gun Rights Examiner ^ | 15 January, 2010 | David Codrea

[marktwain]

© 2010 Publishers Development Corporation

My column "The Perfect Storm," dealing with Hillary Clinton's reversal of U.S. policy to accept the UN's Arms Trade Treaty, appears in the March issue of GUNS Magazine, now on sale at news stands and also online. Every month, the magazine posts its current issue in digital form, accessible by clicking on the flash icon in the upper-right section of their home page. For those of you on dial-up or with older computers, you can still read my current column and many of the other features via traditional html web pages by scrolling down and clicking on links.

But that's not what I want to talk about.

Early on when I began writing about Second Amendment issues, I found that being criticized in print was every bit as satisfying as being published--and a reader who sent a letter to the editor that's printed in the new issue's "Crossfire" section (page six) does not disappoint. To understand what he's upset about, you first need to read my January column, "The Most Dangerous Game" (sorry, this one is only available in the flash edition--from the "Rights Watch" page, click on the "January" link).

To summarize, MSNBC commentator Rachel Maddow said she enjoys shooting, but thinks we should not be "allowed" to take our guns home from the range. And leftist cartoonist and columnist Ted Rall had this to say about armed citizens in public who had conducted themselves peacefully and broken no laws:

[marktwain]

David is only saying what is obvious and needs to be said.

[screaminsunshine]

Rachel. I went to Barbados. They do that there. No guns allowed except at the gun range where only the elite can keep their guns. ...I got robbed at gunpoint.. Case closed.

[popdonnelly]

What is so terrible about law-abiding citizens owning guns to exercise their right, given to them by law, to defend themselves? People with crime in their minds don’t use guns for lawful purposes, and aren’t deterred by “gun control” laws. Gun control laws only affect the ability of otherwise peaceful people to own guns. Only law-abiding people care about breaking gun laws.

[MarkL]

What I particularly LOVE about that idiot Rall's comment is that he is basically stating that if someone is seen as a potential threat, then they should be eliminated... Interestingly enough, that's EXACTLY what they do in 3rd world countries and dictatorships, mostly to opposition journalists and idiot cartoonists. I wonder if he felt this way during the Bush (or any republican) administration?

Mark

[TigersEye]

Is Ted Rall going to get a job going door to door collecting outlawed guns?

[NewJerseyJoe]

P4L

[EGPWS]

MSNBC commentator Rachel Maddow said she enjoys shooting, but thinks we should not be "allowed" to take our guns home from the range.

Come and get 'em Rachel, come and get 'em...

[beancounter13]

...given to them by law,....

Given to them by LAW? NO, not given by law; given by GOD. Rights given by law can be taken away by law; rights given by God can only be taken away by God.

And I thought this was supposed to be a conservative forum....

[Travis McGee]

CW2 Ping

“These town hall terrorists could be declared enemy combatants and bundled off to Bagram with the stroke of a pen. If ever there were a reason for suspending civil rights, this is it.” (Ted Rall)

I characterized Maddow's position as "nothing less than the complete evisceration of the Second Amendment." As for Rall, I had this to say: "Careful, Mr. Rall. You’re talking about testing the ultimate last-resort purpose behind the Second Amendment. Some of us armed Americans take our Bill of Rights seriously and will not go gentle into that good night, bundled or by ourselves. You and your fellow travelers are playing a most dangerous game." (David Codrea)

[aragorn]

These media types all seem to think they’re going to be part of the ruling elite. I suspect they are in for a very rude awakening.

[taxcontrol]

A minor nit with your comment. While I agree in principle, you mentioned “... exercise their right, given to them by law...”

Our rights do not come from laws where they can be taken away by politicians. Nor do they come from the Constitution. Our rights come from God and are stated in the Constitution, protected from interference of politicians and the laws they pass.

While this may seem to be a small nit. Understand that the difference is in the perception of the People as to where the source of the right comes from. If the People are ever convinced that their rights come from laws that politicians pass, then the politicians will have the power and feel entitled to change the laws so that they can gain control over our rights.

Never back down, never given an inch. Always fight for your rights.

[Chode]

or a threat of Self Defense...

[airborne]

Here is another American "skating near the legal edge".

"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." by Thomas Jefferson.

So I'd say he's in good company.

[airborne]

Rachel Maddow said she enjoys shooting, but thinks we should not be "allowed" to take our guns home from the range.

Lucky for me that my back yard is my range!

[wastoute]

At this point in U.S. history I suspect that most of us “gun owners” have decided that we are entering a time when “law abiding” has no place next to “gun owner”. If you get my meaning.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Today’s bank robbers don’t even need guns....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2429840/posts

[Shooter 2.5]

Rachel Maddow must be one of those who try on dozens of clothes in shops without purchasing.

Why buy when you can’t take it home?

[Screaming_Gerbil]

Am I 'skating near the legal edge of making threats of violence'?

Making threats of violence?

It would appear that many people are preparing for it. Look at gun and ammo sales...

People doing stuff like calling the non-violent TEA Party protesters domestic terrorists are pushing things in a potentially violent direction. I remember some famous quote along the lines of "Those who make non-violent protest impossible make violent conflict inevitable" - or words to that effect.

People aren't just skating on the edge of thinking that things might happen. They are wising up and actively preparing for it...

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Rachel Maddow said she enjoys shooting, but thinks we should not be "allowed" to take our guns home from the range.

What are we supposed to do Rachel, invite tyrants and criminals to the range and shoot them there?

[spodefly]

Maddow is surprisingly naive about how power is exercised.

She seemed perfectly fine that the Obama administration could declare Fox News to not be “legitimate”, yet doesn’t think far enough ahead to envision that the next administration could be another “Bush Junta” style administration that could just as easily declare HER to not be legitimate. And she is fine allowing some unidentified “them” to “allow” us to take our guns home from the range. Ridiculous.

Rall, on the other hand, is an ideologue and idiot and I would expect no less from him.