Posted on 07/18/2008 8:41:28 PM PDT by neverdem
WASHINGTON -- Dick Heller, the plaintiff in the Supreme Court case that overturned Washington's strict 32-year-old handgun ban, announced his candidacy on Thursday for the U.S. House of Representatives.
Heller, 66, is seeking the seat currently held by Eleanor Holmes Norton. He is gathering signatures to run on the ballot as a libertarian candidate.
Heller, an armed security guard, sued the District after it rejected his application to keep a handgun at his home for protection in the same Capitol Hill neighborhood as the court.
"Mr. Heller's challenge to Ms. Norton is welcomed in the spirit of debate, and as his campaign unfolds we look forward him hearing about some of his ideas to better D.C.," said Robert J. Kabel, chair of the D.C. Republican Committee, in a statement.
The second amendment protects a "right of the people", not a right of the militia. Besides, the powers over the militia, limited to organizing, training and providing the "discipline" (we'd say "training standards" today) are split between the states and the federal government.
"Militia", like "posse , is just a hat that the people wear, a role that they can take on. That's why the right belongs to the people, but still benefits the "well regulated militia".
Depend on a filibuster from Senators from CA, NY, NJ, MA, MD, and IL just to name a few. And Pelosi would never let the bill get to the floor.
If Mr. Heller gets into Congress, he can use the Floor to castigate Mayor Fenty and the DC council every day, and do it with impunity (Congressional Immunity).
IIRC he has already publicly stated he would sign such legislation, if it reached his desk. However that could be public CYA with the base, just as the statement by GW that he would sign another AWB if that ever reached his desk. Maybe they both know that those events will never happen.
I'm pretty certain there is already enough precedent that the 10th Amendment (States Rights) has already been pretty much gutted. It's a paper tiger within the Bill of Rights. However, I myself don't really like the idea of a single federal permit carry law, since it would be too easy to repeal. IMHO interstate compacts (agreements between states to recognize the other's ccw permits - reciprocity) are the way to go since those will have to be dismantled locally and one at a time. But it might be nice for the FEDS to offer a national level reciprocity blanket for all states who have any form of permit system to recognize other states permits like driver's licenses are recognized nationwide. Most states have permit's available but they may be severely restricted. New York has one, so does New Jersey and California. Never mind that those states are examples of gun control Mecca, they still have ancient permit regs on the books. That's the benefit of federal legislation.
Norton’s seat represents a constituency that is about 90% black democrat. The odds that Heller will win are slim and none. On the other hand Norton represents the worst that black democrats have to offer, arrogant, militantly ignorant, pompous, stupid, and utterly devoted to statism/marxism, so even a miniscule chance is something.
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