Former Supreme Court Justice: Gutting 2nd Amendment ‘A Moderate Proposal’

CNSnews ^ | April 21, 2014 | Susan Jones

[Cheerio]

(CNSNews.com) - Former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, in his new book, recommends six rewrites to the U.S. Constitution. He would restrict gun ownership to militia members; ban the death penalty; and allow government to set "reasonable limits" on campaign financing, among other things.

But Stevens says he's no radical:

"I think every one of my proposals is a moderate proposal," Stevens told ABC's George Stephanopoulos in an interview that aired Sunday on ABC's "This Week."

One of Steven's proposals would add five words to the Second Amendment, which would then read: "...the right of the people to keep and bear arms, when serving in the militia, shall not be infringed."

[lepton]

Like Harry Blackman and David Souter more evidence electing Republicans President does not ensure judicial appointees will be conservative.

---

1) Blackmun was appointed by Nixon, prior to the modern formulation of “Conservative”.

2) your statement is correct.

3) NOT electing a Rebilican, for the foreseeable future, ensures that judicial appointees will not be conservative.

[DaveA37]

All I can say is THANK GOD he is no longer on the Supreme Court. All he did by writing that opinion is give the liberals who ARE on the court, ammunition to pursue his stupid ideas. The constitution has worked for over 200 years and one small group (in the so called “Brain Palace”) does not and should not have the authority to change ANY PART of the Constitution.

[Puppage]

He would restrict gun ownership to militia members

WE The People ARE THE MILITIA!!!

[elcid1970]

The process of amending the Constitution is extremely cumbersome, just as the Founders intended. Especially the part about three fourths of the state legislatures must vote to ratify an amendment passed by two thirds majorities in the Congress. That’s thirty-eight states.

Ol’ J.P. needs to lace up his hiking shoes & hit the bricks - every Congressional office & every State assembly in the Union. It’ll take more than the “stroke of the pen, law of the land, kinda cool” that Paul Forehead Begala envisioned.

Real question for Constitutional scholars on FR: to amend an Amendment, must the original Amendment be revoked, to be followed by a totally new amendment measure, or can it be done by a single piece of amendment legislation? I don’t know.

[lepton]

In Bush v. Gore, was Stevens the Justice who made the ruling that it was excessively rude to so publicly rebuke the SCOFla - rather than whether the SCOFla ruling was constitutional or unconstitutional?

At least Ginsburg engaged in sophistry.

[meatloaf]

Onset of dementia. He’s already starting to rave. He’ll be pissing himself and barking at the moon next.

[Iron Munro]

"He would restrict gun ownership to militia members" !!!!

The BATFE (F Troop) is going to love that one !

Would those be the same Militias the Feral Government constantly harps on as being "Domestic Terrorists" ?

[dangus]

As in, “A Modest Proposal” (Jonathan Swift)

[fwdude]

Stephens is saying that the Founding Fathers got it wrong?

Got it.

[pleasenotcalifornia]

Judge Stevens conveniently forgets that the Battle of Saratoga could not have been won if the common men and women that fought there did not have their own firearms to fight with. If the Americans had lost at Saratoga the American Revolution may have been over soon afterwards.
Stevens is so wrong that the Framers thought individuals did not have the right to have and bear arms. He is a fool.

[pleasenotcalifornia]

Judge Stevens conveniently forgets that the Battle of Saratoga could not have been won if the common men and women that fought there did not have their own firearms to fight with. If the Americans had lost at Saratoga the American Revolution may have been over soon afterwards.
Stevens is so wrong that the Framers thought individuals did not have the right to keep and bear arms. He is a fool.

[Ford4000]

So, with all of the problems we have with government corruption, executive refusal to enforce the laws, out of control spending and a moribund economy Steven wants to refight some second amendment battle he lost and which has no popular support.

[oldenuff2no]

We went to war over these rights and won them. We the people will never willingly just give up our second amendment rights in some big city socialist convention held to impose the socialist way on the rest of the country.

This crap would never be ratified by the red stated and imposition of this kind of a constitutional change by force would instantly start the next civil war.

He calls this a moderate change? This is a very radical change that will never be legally passed or tolerated.

[Scrambler Bob]

Moderate??

I’ll be moderate.

I’ll moderate my right to carry Nukes and own aircraft carriers, but exercise my rights for 25-mm full auto and lesser calibers.

[Little Bill]

My addition would be, “ The Militia shall consist of all males between 17 and 65 who shall possess a rifle or other weapon issued to the Regular Military and 300 rounds of ammunition to be kept in their residence.”

[chesley]

Why do you need a right to carry a gun while serving in a “militia”? What possible use would a gunless “militia” be?

[Little Bill]

My family fought at Saratoga as Militia, you are right.

[Theodore R.]

Stevens is “moderate” like the “moderate” who appointed him. That late “moderate” said Stevens’ appointment was his greatest accomplishment in office.

[Theodore R.]

Stevens is too old to be a fool, but some other justice already borowed the “wise” label.

[Iron Munro]

My addition would be, "The Militia shall consist of all males between 17 and 65 who shall possess a rifle or other weapon issued to the Regular Military and 300 rounds of ammunition to be kept in their residence."

Good start.

How about this minor alteration:

FROM: The Militia shall consist of all males between 17 and 65

TO: The Militia shall consist of all able-bodied Patriots, age 14 and over