Posted on 08/25/2004 2:09:41 PM PDT by yonif
Declaring "the front line of the war against terror once again involves the citizens," Republican Alan Keyes said Tuesday he believes the U.S. Constitution grants properly trained private individuals the right to own and carry machine guns.
"You're not talking about giving citizens access to atom bombs and other things," the former presidential candidate said. "That's ridiculous."
But the GOP nominee for U.S. Senate argued the founding fathers intended the Second Amendment to allow people to carry the types of weapons "customarily carried in those days by ordinary infantry soldiers."
"And, yes, does that mean that in this day and age people would have the right to have access to the kind of the weapons our ordinary infantry people have access to? With proper training and so forth to make sure that they could handle them successfully, that's exactly what was meant."
Keyes made the remarks at a news conference he called to attack the "ideological extremism" of his Democratic opponent, state Sen. Barack Obama.
The Republican lit into Obama for voting against a bill in Springfield earlier this year that would have allowed people who use handguns to fend off home invaders or attackers to argue self-defense as a possible legal defense against prosecution for violating any local anti-firearm possession ordinances.
The measure passed the Legislature with bi-partisan support, but Gov. Blagojevich vetoed it last week.
Keyes called Obama's vote against the measure an "appalling . . . lack of common sense."
"This seems to be a man who is absolutely determined to make the world safe for criminals, while making sure that law-abiding citizens have no opportunity to defend themselves against the criminals," Keyes said.
Keyes said he supports a system in which guns would be treated similarly to automobiles, with people being required to undergo different levels of training before they would be allowed to own and carry various sorts of weapons.
"I always remind -- even people who support the Second Amendment -- that it has two parts: the right to keep and bear" arms, Keyes said. " 'Bear' means to carry, to carry around. . . . I think it has been proven empirically that . . . allowing law-abiding citizens this access to conceal-carry actually reduces crime."
Keyes said he owns two firearms himself: a 9mm Glock semi-automatic pistol and a .38-caliber "six-shooter." But he said he does not keep them at his new home in Calumet City.
Keyes only indirectly answered a reporter's question about whether he would "be comfortable if the entire society was walking around with Uzis, as long as they were properly trained."
"Have you ever been to Israel?" Keyes asked the reporter. "Because if you've ever been to Israel, you wouldn't ask that question. And in the midst of terrifying dangers, you walk around the streets of Israel and you see every other person carrying arms and Uzis and so forth and so on, and believe me, you do not feel less safe on that account."
Machine guns, or fully automatic weapons, are firearms that fire multiple shots with a single pull of the trigger.
Thomas Ahern, a spokesman for the Chicago division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said private individuals can only own such weapons if they apply with the bureau and clear a series of hurdles, including a background check, fingerprinting and the OK of local law enforcement officials. Additional paperwork is required any time the weapon is to be transported.
"It is heavily regulated," Ahern said.
A spokesman for Obama defended the Democrat's record on guns.
"Certainly he believes in the Second Amendment, but he also believes in common-sense gun safety laws, such as the federal ban on military-style assault weapons." said spokesman Robert Gibbs. "If Alan Keyes truly was concerned about public safety, that would be his position, as well."
What makes you think that Keyes is trying to gain votes?
In "settlement" areas, the sights of ordinary people having those kinds of guns is not uncommon. In relation to what Keyes said, I think he referred not to who was holding the guns or allowed to hold the guns, but that those holding those guns had ample training.
Trained by their fellow citizens perhaps? Self-goverment works when allowed.
That is some of the thinking in my opinion, as 20% of Israel's population is Arab. Every Jew has to do one, however there are exceptions. Some can do national, non-military service, and some like religious people, under law who wish to attend Yeshivas, and religious schools can be exempt. Some do the religious school in addition to military service together. Nonetheless, as you say, theoritically most Jews in Israel can receive a gun.
So the comment I responded to was just fine with you.
Noted.
When allowed.
A spokesman for Obama defended the Democrat's record on guns.
What's this...lol... Obama can't answer for himself?
Must be a democrat trait --- Kerry can't either.
There's a huge difference - perhaps you may wish to make a note of that as well.
GUN CONTROL IS BEING ABLE TO HIT YOUR TARGET
I have a buddy who's a class III dealer and used to bring all his toys out to my farm to try them out. We fired 20,000 rds. one day through an MP5, MAC 11, M-14, converted Ruger 10-22, etc. I had to draw the line when he wanted to bring a .50 cal M2 out to the holler. It's fun but it's too expensive. One benefit I had from it was the rednecks next door who used to trespass on my farm NEVER came back.
How can he have a plan to win when he didn't even know he was running until a week ago?
Foolhardy, dangerous move for the Illinois GOP to make in the eve of such a crucial Presidential election.
If he didn't have a plan, he shouldn't be running.
It's not like this is his first campaign.
I paid for my "training" by hiring a Ranger/sniper. He trained the kids too. If that is what you are talking about fine. But if it's applying for a license like for a car, or yet another "permit" from the government, in lieu of an unfringed 'right'... that's a problem.
I am not sure that ANY government really has the right to determine whether I am trained enough to exercise my unalienable rights... like weapons or speech.
Lots of folks want to find reasons for restricting both.
I don't think its a conservative position... and hope that is not the case here.
So now you're scrambling to reinvent yourself by trying to paint Keyes as a gungrabber???
ROTFLMAO!!!
Thank-you, Luis!!!
That's gotta be one of the funniest things I've seen in a loooooong time!!!
You really are entertaining in a very bizarre way.
Since the poster contrasted Keyes and Bush while disparaging Bush, I said I hoped most Keyes supporters didn't share such sentiments.
I don't ask myself, "What would technochick" do before I post. Sue me.
Keyes believes that upon satisfactory completion of training, government licensing would allow citizens to carry weapons.
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
According to Keyes, the right of the people to keep and bear arms should be subject to government approval via licensing.
I've thought Keyes was kind of goofy, what with the singing and all.
I like his message, and this especially.
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