CRIMINALIZING THE SECOND AMENDMENT

Ether Zone ^ | 26 March 2002 | Doug Patton

[fella]

Where did that Jefferson quote come from? It's a beaut.

[Registered]

[Joe Brower]

"False is the idea of utility that sacrifices a thousand real advantages for one imaginary or trifling inconvenience; that would take fire from men because it burns, and water because one may drown in it; that has no remedy for evils, except destruction. The laws that forbid the carrying of arms are laws of such a nature. They disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes....Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man."

Thomas Jefferson's "Commonplace Book," 1774-1776, quoting 18th century criminologist Cesare Beccaria in "On Crimes and Punishment", 1764

[RogueIsland]

Where did that Jefferson quote come from? It's a beaut.

I know I'm going to spell this wrong, but here's my attempt. I believe he was quoting Cesare Braccae here.

[dead]

I have loved the Jefferson quote for years, but never saw the Waxman quote. They look great together.

One slight suggestion: as ugly as it is, that is still the best looking picture I've ever seen of "Nostrils". I think it might make for a better visual if you found one that captured him in full sneering angry rat pose.

[RogueIsland]

You beat me to it, and spelled it right to boot!

[Euro-American Scum]

More alarmingly, many judges and legislators accepted it long ago. In their world, the Constitution is just a guide. Rather than accepting its common-sense language at face value, the judiciary can interpret it according to the whims of the day.

Which is why the liberal stonewalling of Dubya's judicial appointments is so onerous. The courts are packed with liberal activists over the years, and the socialists will not give them up without a fight.

What's more ominous is that even with a more-or-less conservative administration, little, if anything is done to turn back the erosion of freedom wrought by decades of liberal corruption. So it has been in years past. So it is now.

Sooner or later the libs will capture the White House again (hopefully not for many years to come). What happens then, I wonder? Abolish the constitution? With the support of liberal jurists in courts of every level and propagandized by the liberal media? It's as if the tide of liberalism is relentless, and viewed much more in the long term than any conservative ideologue.

[Joe Brower]

You mean like this?

[45Auto]

It's as if the tide of liberalism is relentless, and viewed much more in the long term than any conservative ideologue.

Yes, its why my grandchildren will be totally disarmed and helpless in the face of a rotten, liberal utopia - a kingdom of slaves. I'm going to do my utmost to pass on my arms - but the most important thing will be to educate my heirs on the sancity of the 2nd Amendment and its relation to liberty. Without this knowledge, future generations will simply not care or know what freedom was. All will not be peaceful in this new utopia, however. That's the real crime. The damn socialists will live to regret their ignorance.

[elbucko]

"They disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes....Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants...

The empirical proof of the above statement is the increase in gun crime in the "gun free", UK.

[elbucko]

I agree. The essential argument is do we want this country to go the way of Europe? Do we want the New World to become like the Old World, where the State is more important than the individual?

I think this is the essence of the 2nd. Ammendment. The Citizen, in the New World, is not beholden to the State as in the Old World, but is a power the State must always reckon with, and defer to.

[redangus]

If the Dems pushed right now they could win the fight. Dub and the Republicans in the Congress would not want to waste political capital on such a minor issue. We would just give in and move on to the next fight like we have done on CFR, Taxes, education and the Pickering nomination.

[dead]

Exactly! Did you make that one? It's a classic!

[lawdog]

"Zero tolerance" is a phrase hijacked by the PC totalitarin minded "educators" who have managed to give Orwell a run for his money.

Common sense and an accurate accounting of American history are amongst the casualties.We are raising a nation of sheep. The sheep are conditioned to think that any "self-defence is a "bad" thing.

[Joe Brower]

Nope, can't claim credit for the grafik. I just swoop 'em off of FR as I stumble across 'em.

[jayree]

The Liberal politicians will never learn or relent on these issues.

[Ajnin]

I think one of our biggest problems is with gun owners. I think most gun owners believe that absolute gun control is going to come in the form of stormtroopers jackbooting down the street kicking in doors and terrorizing a well armed citizenry. I don't think most gun owners realize that the stormtroopers are going to come only after the boiling frog strategy has worked.

[Jerrybob]

Some great thoughts there, 45.

Someone told me that the Constitution is NOT a "living, breathing document"; it is a CONTRACT.

Truth needs to be shouted from the housetops. Maybe then the lies will wither away.

[Jerrybob]

What part of "...SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED..." do these people not understand???