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."
LOL!
And please inform us, O Great Protector of our 2nd Amendment Rights, how that differs from current restrictions and changes we can anticipate if your buddy Obama is elected.
We eagerly await your words of wisdom.
An important picture is not only fitting for accompanying numerous good words; also a number of aspects of the subject at hand -- or, fingertip.
Cartoon featured in Chicago Sun-Times and Illinois Leader.
Keyes ping list, courtesy of FRN-IL. Just FREEPMAIL me if you want on/off this list! also...
SIGN & FORWARD PETITION to GOP Leaders: Fund & Support Alan Keyes Senate Campaign!
Get up to date with Alan Keyes, his schedule and campaign.
Be an Obama fan! 8-o Encourage our Socialist Rock Star Barack! Don't back down! Do those 6 Lincoln/Douglas style debates with that 'right-winger'Alan Keyes!: info@obamaforillinois.com & bobama@aol.com
Keyes ping list, courtesy of FRN-IL. Just FREEPMAIL me if you want on/off this list! also...
SIGN & FORWARD PETITION to GOP Leaders: Fund & Support Alan Keyes Senate Campaign!
Get up to date with Alan Keyes, his schedule and campaign.
Be an Obama fan! 8-o Encourage our Socialist Rock Star Barack! Don't back down! Do those 6 Lincoln/Douglas style debates with that 'right-winger'Alan Keyes!: info@obamaforillinois.com & bobama@aol.com
'Well-regulated', in the eighteenth century vernacular, meant 'well trained'.
Alan Keyes knows original intent far better than his critics here.
I smell desperation.
God bless you Jim. Real good.
Thank you. I beleieve we will all learn a lot from Alan Keyes in the coming weeks if we allow him to speak.
How can he have a plan to win when he didn't even know he was running until a week ago?
He used the example of machine guns.
I'm impressed by how stupid some Keyes haters are willing to appear. Assuming they are not really that stupid.
Black Man With A Gun
by David J. Miller
TheBluesMan@KeepAndBearArms.com
February 7, 2003
I am a Black Man With A Gun.
You wouldn't know it to look at me. Most people see an unarmed, 37-year-old, bearded white male; but I assure you that I am a Black Man with a Gun.
I borrowed this title from a man named Kenneth Blanchard; the original Black Man With a Gun. www.BlackManWithaGun.com He is, in his own words, "...an American of African ancestry," and he's not shy about the fact that he's a conservative Christian gun owner too.
People in society today seem to tense up when they hear the words, "black man" and "gun" in a sentence. This is because of the incorrect yet popular belief that most black men with guns are criminals. Blanchard works to shatter that stereotype through speaking engagements, shooting camps, training classes, essays and books. His primary focus is to break through the barriers of race that society foists upon us.
It is not an easy task. Many black men are reluctant to stand up and be counted among mainstream (read: white) gun owners. They prefer to keep their gun ownership private. This reluctance is a manifestation of the race barrier that has been constructed and used to keep gun owners of different races separated and, therefore, weakened. If we, as freedom-loving gun owners are to successfully regain and retain our rights, we must *all* stick together. White, black or brown, male or female, suburban, rural or urban; it makes no difference. In the words of Benjamin Franklin, "We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately."
Another manifestation of the race barrier is the inability, or perhaps the unwillingness, of people to "join up" with groups who are different. It may be very difficult for many heterosexual gun owners to support their local chapter of Pink Pistols. This is, I imagine, how some black gun owners might feel about supporting the mostly white NRA, and, how some white gun owners might feel about supporting Blanchard's Tenth Cavalry Gun Club (http://www.blackmanwithagun.com/tcgc.html). The key to supporting others is to recognize that Freedom, the right to self defense, and the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is more important than the things that make us different.
Blanchard often uses the words, "brothers," "sisters," and "family" when referring to his fellow gun owners. He does this irrespective of their race, creed or color. He defines "family" as, "a group of people united by certain convictions or a common affiliation." To Kenn Blanchard, I am his brother because we share a common belief in the inherent right of *everyone* to keep and bear arms for their defense and security.
I have joined my brother Kenn in his quest to bring people of every stripe together under a common banner: that of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Together, we promote responsible firearms ownership through cooperation, learning and acceptance. But none of this can take place until there is a starting point. That point is Freedom; and the common thread running from that point which binds us all together is responsible gun ownership. Brothers and sisters can overlook their differences and ignore petty disagreements if they concentrate on and accentuate their commonalties.
Please join my brother and I in our mission. You are our family. We are your brothers. All you need to do to start out is admit that you truly believe in Liberty for all, the rest will follow naturally.
And if you should ever see a bearded white man at the range with a "Black Man with a Gun" sticker on his rifle case; just say "Hi brother!" I'll know immediately that you are a friend of Liberty; and a brother in arms.
He IS a teacher extraordinaire, that's sure...
One thing cannot be doubted: no matter the outcome on November 2nd, large numbers of Illinoisans, and Americans for that matter, will be forced to use their brains and think about the fundamental principles that have made this crazy republic work for over 200 years.
Yeah, Luis is extremely worried that, like drivers licenses,
these wouldn't be made available to illegal immigrants.
Ooooo....that's gonna leave a mark...
Can someone please answer the man's question?
(I tried to make sure I didn't include any "recently departed" in the "To:" list...)
Yes I did, and I have no problem with this information in the public discourse. Bringing this debate into the public discourse puts the opposition on the defensive. They've been pushing us for too long. It's time to push back, not talk about mandatory trigger locks and other unenforceable, useless measures.
Where does the Second Amendment impose limitations on the sorts of weapons citizens should be able to carry (bear)?
You are so right.
OK, I'll make it even easier for you Willie...you put up one link to any comment of mine in support of issuing driver's licenses to illegal aliens, and I'll leave the forum.
You fail to do so, and you are exposed as a liar and a spineless coward.
Bring it on.
If I have unfairly accused you of shamming stupidity to attack Keyes then I apologize.
I don't ask myself, "What would technochick" do before I post. Sue me.
I think I've figured it out.
If you don't "support Keyes" (definition appears to be fluid, thus the scarequotes), you are required, upon pain of attack and/or banishment, to either STFU, or, if incapable of holding your damn tongue, expressing your disapproval in the most patient, polite, cloyingly sweet, yea, complimentary tone possible.
But, if you do support Keyes (i.e., you're on the "approved list" as it were), then you can express your disgust, contempt, bile, and outright hatred of others without restraint, with utter gusto, and with outright impunity.
There's no room for any of that Voltaire nonsense about "I may not agree with what you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it" -- except that those who disagree with Keyes MUST give full support to those who agree with him.
At least, that's how it seems to me.
Oh, the irony...
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