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They're Coming For Our Guns (Really)
Townhall.com ^ | July 23, 2020 | Cal Thomas

Posted on 07/23/2020 7:15:12 AM PDT by Kaslin

For years conservative groups and especially the National Rifle Association have been warning that the government would find a way to confiscate the guns of law-abiding Americans. Many dismissed what they regarded as a scare tactic designed to raise money.

What is happening in St. Louis should awaken us to the fact that those fears are well founded.

The top prosecutor in St. Louis has charged a married couple with "felony unlawful use of a weapon for displaying guns during a racial injustice protest outside their mansion."

Mark and Patricia McCloskey, who the media identify as being "white," are in their 60s. Both are personal injury attorneys. Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner says their actions risked creating a violent situation during an otherwise "peaceful protest" last month.

Doesn't Gardner have it backwards?

The gun owners, who say protesters had trespassed on their property, claim they were protecting their home from what could have turned into a violent mob as they no doubt had seen happen on TV in other cities. A case could be made that their display of weapons prevented violence, which is one of the purposes of the Second Amendment. Having a gun for personal protection can be a deterrent without it ever being fired. The McCloskeys did not fire their guns, but only waved them at the protesters while yelling at them.

The McCloskeys have some powerful defenders, including President Trump and Missouri Governor Mike Parson, a Republican, who has said he will pardon the couple if they are convicted. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) is another supporter. Hawley has asked Attorney General William Barr to begin an investigation to determine whether the McCloskey's civil rights have been violated.

Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt is also on the side of the McCloskeys. Schmitt has filed a brief with the court that says in part, "The right to keep and bear arms is given the highest level of protection in our Constitution and our laws, including the Castle Doctrine." The Castle law was passed in 2017 and provides for "stand your ground" protection for citizens who feel threatened by others.

Police seized Mark McCloskey's semi-automatic weapon and Patricia McCloskey later voluntarily surrendered her pistol.

This case is not only important on its own but demonstrates what could happen if Joe Biden wins the presidency. In March, while the COVID-19 virus was beginning to overtake us, Biden said this about Beto O'Rourke after O'Rourke dropped out of the presidential race and endorsed Biden: "You're going to take care of the gun problem with me. You're going to be the one who leads this effort. I'm counting on you. I'm counting on you." He then added, "We need you badly, the state needs you, the country needs you. You're the best."

Last year while still a candidate, O'Rourke said during a debate carried by ABC News: "Hell yes, we are going to take your AR-15." And after that, what? Having established a precedent that the government has a right to confiscate a weapon owned by a law-abiding citizen, what other guns would O'Rourke (and Biden) come for and on what grounds? What would stop them if more liberal judges are named to the courts and they ignore or re-interpret the Second Amendment?

Do any of the shooters in our major cities pay attention to anti-gun laws, or laws against murder? By definition they are lawbreakers and no one has been able to tell me how passing more laws will suddenly turn them into law-abiders.

By brandishing their weapons, the McCloskeys possibly deterred the marchers outside their home from engaging in actions far worse than their alleged trespassing. If they are convicted, they should be immediately pardoned by the governor. This should be a lesson learned about one of the many dangers of a Joe Biden presidency.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: banglist; doj; dsj03; gunconfiscation; gunrights; mcclosky; nra; secondamendment; soros; sygl
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1 posted on 07/23/2020 7:15:12 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Good luck with that, Lefties,considering that gun sales are through the roof since you began your stupid games this year.


2 posted on 07/23/2020 7:27:46 AM PDT by Avalon Memories (Fight the Left - the communists - not our own.)
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To: Kaslin

They’re gunning for us. The earth dwellers demand slaves and blood.


3 posted on 07/23/2020 7:28:26 AM PDT by Karliner (Heb 4:12 Rom 8:28 Rev 3, "...This is the end of the beginning." Churchill)
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To: Kaslin

They won’t get them.


4 posted on 07/23/2020 7:32:24 AM PDT by faithhopecharity (Politicians are not born, theyÂ’re excreted. Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 to 43 BCE))
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To: Kaslin

How is that woman still in her position?

Wasn’t it discovered that she lied, withheld evidence, coached a witness, brought bogus charges, and, basically, use all sorts of dirty tricks to get rid of Greitens? Who was having your run of the mill affair with some woman, IIRC.

After a 20-month investigation the Missouri Ethics Commission (MEC) released an order fully exonerating former Governor Eric Greitens. They found “no evidence of any wrongdoing on the part of Eric Greitens.”

And the state of Missouri did nothing to her. Must be nice to be able to walk through life knowing you’ll never be held accountable.


5 posted on 07/23/2020 7:38:42 AM PDT by qaz123
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To: Kaslin

The DA should be prosecuted.


6 posted on 07/23/2020 7:50:06 AM PDT by chopperk
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To: qaz123

....”If they are convicted, they should be immediately pardoned by the governor.”.... but will there still be
a felony conviction on their records...? if that is the
case, they would never again be allowed to own or even
touch a firearm, am I right...?? this whole situation is
really, really screwed up....


7 posted on 07/23/2020 7:50:44 AM PDT by TokarevM57
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To: Avalon Memories

...no one could be a more fervent supporter of the
2nd amendment than I.... but if the Dems win the
Senate and the Presidency in November, watch them
work almost at once to gut, or even abolish, the 2nd
amendment...yes, as the now late Admiral Isoruku
Yamamoto said, behind every blade of grass in America
is a rifle...but that won’s stop the Dems from trying
to take them away, especially that “assault weapon”
the AR-15 ........


8 posted on 07/23/2020 7:54:17 AM PDT by TokarevM57
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To: qaz123

Look up thee 1983 Supreme Court decision in Imbler v. Pachtman. Prosecutors were granted absolute immunity for anything connected to their job. And you wondered why Soros spent all that money on those DA elections.


9 posted on 07/23/2020 7:54:56 AM PDT by CA_soon_gone
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To: Kaslin
Given the fact that the DC District Federal Appeals court ruled in "Warren v. District of Columbia" that the police have no reason to protect individuals, and the SCOTUS ruled in "Jessica Gonzales v. City of Castle Rock, CO," that the local police department isn't even required to enforce it's own protective orders, this is a HUGE deal.

Even though during the hurricane, where the City of New Orleans actually went through and illegally collected the guns of individuals, at least according to the SCOTUS, given the ruling came long after the collection, this is quite alarming.

Mark

10 posted on 07/23/2020 7:58:22 AM PDT by MarkL (Do I really look like a guy with a plan?)
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To: qaz123
And the state of Missouri did nothing to her. Must be nice to be able to walk through life knowing you’ll never be held accountable.

She's fully protected by the Dems and the money of George Soros.

Mark

11 posted on 07/23/2020 7:59:41 AM PDT by MarkL (Do I really look like a guy with a plan?)
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To: Kaslin

The puppet Biden (if elected) will work with the left to attack the Second Amendment and push for repeal. Sounds crazy? I would have agreed a few years ago, but nothing surprises me now. Obama stockpiled 1000 assault vehicles and 1 billion rounds of ammo for confiscating guns, IMO

Public opinion will be key to winning enough state votes to repeal the Amendment.


12 posted on 07/23/2020 8:00:49 AM PDT by Huskrrrr
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To: Kaslin
They'll never make a dent in the number of guns no matter what laws they pass or how they enforce them. Estimates say there are between 300 million and 500 million guns in private hands with several million more added ever single year (the vast majority not registered and with no way for the government to track ownership). Guns are durable goods and rarely break or need repairs (which is why there are still plenty of guns from the early 19th century for sale). So there is a high likelihood that vast majority of hundreds of millions of guns are still out there and in perfect working order.
13 posted on 07/23/2020 8:04:17 AM PDT by apillar
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To: Kaslin
(From the article):" .. Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner says their actions risked creating a violent situation
during an otherwise "peaceful protest" last month.
Doesn't Gardner have it backwards? "

Yes, Gardner has it backwards ,and purposely so !
This is one of Soros's investments into State and County prosecutors and District Attourneys; and this is only the start.
The "peaceful protest" included breaking and entering a locked gate, and destruction of the gate.
The "peaceful protest" was trespassing on private property.
The victims of this legal insurrection were merely trying to protect their property,
and their own well-being as evidenced by the existing video which shows "peaceful protesters" making threats.
Expect similar responses from Soros investments into the legal system; this is but one recent flaggerent example.
Expect more of the same.

14 posted on 07/23/2020 8:06:35 AM PDT by Tilted Irish Kilt
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To: chopperk

She’s just one of many Soros financed DA’s injected into pus pocket cities across the cointry by filthy, ignorant democrat voters.


15 posted on 07/23/2020 8:10:11 AM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: Kaslin

Democrats do not care that the Second Amendment is clear or that the SCOTUS has ruled it is a personal right to keep and bear arms.

Democrats do not care that a Castle Doctrine law was passed in Missouri.

Democrats do not care because they will push the limits and harass you into surrender or get one of their judges to rewrite the law.


16 posted on 07/23/2020 8:11:17 AM PDT by Erik Latranyi (The Democratic Party is communism)
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To: apillar
They'll never make a dent in the number of guns no matter what laws they pass or how they enforce them.

They'll never make any dent in the number of ILLEGAL guns, just those owned by legal owners. THOSE are the people those in the government are really afraid of.

The illegal gun owners, i.e. criminals, are just to be used as a club against the legal owners.

Mark

17 posted on 07/23/2020 8:11:54 AM PDT by MarkL (Do I really look like a guy with a plan?)
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To: Kaslin
I'm focusing on long range precision scoped bolt rifles and a few single shots. That's a hedge against the possibility that my semi-autos are "TEMPORARILY" lost!😎
18 posted on 07/23/2020 8:18:27 AM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: TokarevM57
"...but that won’s stop the Dems from trying to take them away, especially that “assault weapon” the AR-15 ........"

At which point, Civil War II begins.

19 posted on 07/23/2020 8:38:04 AM PDT by Wonder Warthog (No Longer Tolerating Trolls!)
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To: qaz123

“And the state of Missouri did nothing to her. Must be nice to be able to walk through life knowing you’ll never be held accountable.”


The state of Missouri is “in the process” of doing something to her—there is an investigation of her and her office, but it may well be hoping she’s defeated in this fall’s election. Apparently she’s not moved on real serious crimes, but seems hot to trot on cases like Greitens/McCloskeys.

She says any and all moves against her are ‘racist’, which may, for her, be an election-winning strategy.


20 posted on 07/23/2020 8:43:17 AM PDT by hanamizu
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