Second Amendment is not license for treason, armed revolt
According to some, the primary purpose of the Second Amendment is to ensure that citizens have enough firepower to overthrow the federal government, should it become necessary to do so. If the government ever loses its fear of such a revolt, the theory goes, our liberty ends and tyranny begins.
Let me be blunt: That is mythological claptrap. But like a lot of mythological claptrap, it can push weak-minded people — the Timothy McVeighs of the world — to do stupid and dangerous things.
It is certainly true that when the Second Amendment was drafted back in the 18th century, it was plausible to believe that an armed citizenry could be a check on overweening government power. Back then, there wasn’t much difference in the weapons available to private citizens and the weapons available to the military. It could have been, and sometimes was, a more or less even fight.
Today, that is no longer the case, and it hasn’t been the case for a century or longer. Around the world, governments have access to a range of weaponry that private citizens have no hope of matching or withstanding. There is simply no comparison between the brute, deadly force that a government can wield and that wielded by private citizens, individually or collectively. Technology has rendered that aspect of the Second Amendment a dead letter.
If you want to rejuvate that aspect of the Second Amendment, you have to be willing to grant private citizens access to fully automatic weapons, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, grenade launchers, etc. And it’s not going to happen.
That’s not just my opinion. It is also the opinion of the U.S. Supreme Court, as expressed by one of its most conservative members, Justice Antonin Scalia, in the most important Second Amendment opinion the court ever issued.
In District of Columbia v. Heller, issued in 2008, Scalia and the court made it clear for the first time that the Second Amendment “protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia.” But in that same opinion, Scalia brushed aside claims that the Second Amendment guarantees citizens the means to armed revolution. He concluded that technology has rendered that part of the amendment an archaic artifact, because “a militia, to be as effective as militias in the 18th century, would require sophisticated arms that are highly unusual in society at large” and that “no amount of small arms could be useful against modern-day bombers and tanks.”
For that reason, Scalia made it clear that the Second Amendment “does not protect those weapons not typically possessed by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes,” and that the government is fully within its rights to ban military-style weaponry.
In Iraq, for example, gun ownership is extremely widespread, with many if not most households owning fully automatic weapons that would be banned in this country. Yet Saddam Hussein had little trouble imposing and maintaining a brutal dictatorship in that country for decades. He did not confiscate guns, because he understood that such guns posed no real threat to his tyranny.
And as Joshua Keating notes at ForeignPolicy.com, look at Tunisia and Egypt, where private gun ownership is very low but citizens have nonetheless managed to overthrow brutal military dictatorships. If government now has a massive advantage in terms of brute force, innovations such as Twitter, Facebook, cellphones and satellite TV have more than offset it in the cause of freedom.
Guns don’t overthrow tyranny or guarantee liberty. People do.
– Jay Bookman
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1,326 comments Add your comment
TaxPayer
January 17th, 2013
11:01 am
I’m as progressive as they come and that’s why I can tell all of you that it is your God-given right to take up arms against this repressionist Obama regime and force him to pass legislation outlawing the killing of our innocent sperm. Yessirrrreeeee!
Come on cons. Try to be more entertaining. Is Rush on potty break or something and you guys just can’t come up with anything on your own while he’s away.
Paul
January 17th, 2013
11:01 am
Greg
“End the war on drugs, that’s all I ask. ”
Based on many of the posts, the war on drugs has been a colossal failure.
Uh Huh....Nonsensical Idea
January 17th, 2013
11:01 am
@Paddy O
January 17th, 2013
10:48 am
uh huh is one of those snarky butt holes that frequently got beat up in school. diarrhia of the mouth without much substance behind it. but, it makes him feel good. bleeding heart and all.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
YOU hear your own inner voices with great clearness.
And YOU live by what YOU hear.
People like YOU become crazy… or they become a LEGEND
IN THEIR OWN MIND.
DON’T judge what I say…..
JUDGE my motivation because of what you SAY.
john
January 17th, 2013
11:01 am
Some people, including this communist scumbag that writes for this rag of a newspaper and penned this column has never read the Federalist Papers, nor have they read the Declaration of Independence.
Ya’ll want to worship at the holy church of government? Go ahead.
Dee
January 17th, 2013
11:02 am
Thank you for a common sense analysis. I am so sick of the NRA fear mongering.
von
January 17th, 2013
11:02 am
@Paul: it was BASED on the guys that WROTE the 2nd AMENDMENT. Unless that amendment got overturned when I wasnt looking I am pretty sure that supersedes ANYTHING Jay mentioned in his diatribe, supersedes anything Scalia has ever said or wrote.
stands for decibels
January 17th, 2013
11:03 am
stands for decibel: where is your budget surplus to do this new spending?
Our government doesn’t need a budget surplus to spend. If it did, we’d never have purchased anything throughout most of our nation’s history.
Anyway, I’m just addressing the ASSumption posted earlier that we libruls opposed voting ID. I am totally for issuing free passports for all of our citizens. I actually wasn’t kidding about that.
Veteran Observer
January 17th, 2013
11:04 am
The president is the one committing Treason! 4 years ago and in a few days, he took an oath to obey and enforce the Constitution of the US! He doesn’t have the leeway to agree with parts of it and act against other parts! His using the justice department to advance his own political views has already been challenged by the courts and this is another example of his ignorance and inability to lead! Yes an armed citizenry is a deterrent to tyranny and so is a conscientious military. With massive drawdowns in the military, reserve and guard units far outnumber regular forces and these citizen soldiers will never fire on their neighbors and friends! There is a good balance with this combination of deterrents to tyranny, and it keeps the president and our other leaders talking instead of acting dictatorially! A book by Tom Kratman, A State of Disobedience should be mandatory reading in our high school government and civics classes! The president needs to remember that he governs with the consent of the people and he should represent all the people and not just his elitist academic friends!
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 17th, 2013
11:04 am
Must be a bunch of disgruntled Man City fans? Or Liverpool?
Nope, Arsenal – they are after all “The Gunners.”
Just read this a.m. that Pep Guardiola is taking the reins at Bayern München starting this summer. He had been rumored to manage The Blue Lions after Rafa’s interimship ended. I think I like Rafa, so I would be happy to see him stay.
I see that you evil Red Devils drew Real Madrid and “The Special One” for the next round in ECL. Ought to be a good match-up.
Fly-On-The-Wall
January 17th, 2013
11:05 am
I know this will come very late in this discussion but I heard something that struck home about this gun discussion.
Someone on one of the politican talk shows made the following statement (I’m paraphrasing a bit): “The NRA believes that we need to add more places where guns should be allowed. Look at all of the places that we currently allow guns. Are we any safer then we were before this was allowed? Gun violence is still very high in this country so will we be any safer if we allow guns to be carried any/everywhere?”
So that’s the question to the NRA people – are we really any safer with all of the places guns can be currently carried and will we be any safer by adding additional locations? The metrics nation-wide don’t seem to say that we will be.
ahsoisee
January 17th, 2013
11:05 am
This article is straight from the garbage coming from the White House. We are in the process of being taken over by the Islamist doctrines of control by the sword (force), We have an Islamist president and the next step is his entrance into the one-world government where Islamists are trying to take over the world through this new setup.
It is not treason when you try to defend your country and its constitution from those who want to take over your country and change its constitutions and laws to match ifs own agenda. Yes, the citizens of our country have a right to defend the take-over of our country.
We have seen that the elections are fixed and there is no way to vote for the preferred leaders as the machine has it fixed so that the only way to defend ourselves is to keep ourselves armed so we can resist the takeover by the evil elements of the world.
Christian Conservative
January 17th, 2013
11:05 am
Fred ™
Wow, ANOTHER one who suffers from delusions. Considering I have actually MET and partied with several of these people (including Kam) I think this new idea of yours is as false as all the other ones you post.
As to where is Jay? Scroll through the blog. Look for the posts that are highlighted in grey, those are Jays, they say “Jay’ by them. It takes second to find them. Try it and see what you come up with lol.
Dang Fred… I forgot to mention you…. I’m sure in your head your probably sitting with all these people right now…..
keith
January 17th, 2013
11:05 am
Liberals need to educate themselves.
Granny Godzilla
January 17th, 2013
11:06 am
Veteran Observer
In this matter HE IS most certainly representing the people.
You wasted a whole bunch of words.
RGB
January 17th, 2013
11:07 am
He starts out:
“According to some…”
Ah, those pesky Founding Fathers–now relegated to “some”.
rightwingextreme
January 17th, 2013
11:07 am
Keep Up the Good Fight!
January 17th, 2013
10:35 am
RW Extreme, so you are saying that the 2d amendment requires a “declaration” before remedies can be undertaken? And how many must support? Let’s recall that generally only 1/3 of the colonists supported revolution.
Someone had asked under what circumstances would it be ok for a Revolution. I suggested the DOI. Or it could be a Ft. Sumter type scenario.
you can't fix stupid or Democrats or liberals
January 17th, 2013
11:09 am
“To conquer a nation you first must disarm the citizens” Adolf Hitler
Christian Conservative
January 17th, 2013
11:09 am
Uh Huh….Nonsensical Idea:
Nice name change.. But anyway I’m actually a thinker… Unlike most on the left… Consider that very very few people in the bright red state of Georgia think the way Bookman does where would you people come from?
Granny Godzilla
January 17th, 2013
11:09 am
Kam and Fred
CC has a sad that y’all didn’t invite him to the bar.
He could have been your DD.
TaxPayer
January 17th, 2013
11:09 am
Give it up, Fred. That Christian Conservative has done figgered it out. We has been outed.
RB from Gwinnett
January 17th, 2013
11:09 am
Krystal, “Seriously, who needs to be addressed are the morons that are paranoid about “tyranny” and that BS and pass the paranoia onto their children. ”
We know, Krystal. We get it. You only want us around to pay for all the crap you want. And then you want us to shut up and like it. I’ve got bad news for you Krystal. We’re sick of it and we do not like you. We have no interest in singing Kumbaya with you. You cannot steal what others have worked for, mock them, and expect them to act like it’s ok. Get it through your head.
David
January 17th, 2013
11:09 am
“Guns don’t overthrow tyranny or guarantee liberty. People do.”
That is earily similar to ‘guns don’t kill, people do’.
Corbin Sharpe. Baby Boomer...and Ban the Gun Thug!
January 17th, 2013
11:09 am
Kieth,
You keep bringing up the Viet Nam conflict as a reason for our right to bear arms here. You are obviously very young, or very ill informed by what happened. As a Viet Nam combat veteran, I’m dismayed at your words…and I’m amazed that Scout hasn’t put you straight. Let me do it. We fought two kinds of enemies there. the NVA, North Vietnamese Army, and the farmer fighter known as the Viet Cong. The former was Mostly Chinese trained and were very capable. The Cong were capable too, added with damned devious. But with this, it wasn’t those two that whipped us. It was our own government heaping rules upon rules for combat upon us. We were never allowed off the leash to fight the way we could win. Your argument doesn’t hold water.
Get Over It Jay
January 17th, 2013
11:11 am
Jay – Whether it is an inconvenient truth or not, the US Constitution make provison for personal gun ownership rights, all of your “treason” and “armed revolt” hyperbole aside. If you would like, please lead the charge to amend the Constitution, otherwise please continue to exercise your First Amendment rights and opine away.
williebkind
January 17th, 2013
11:11 am
“Someone IS going to snap.”
The last two massive murders were done by liberals. I guess you guys keep waiting for someone who calls themselves conservative to commit such an act.
JamVet
January 17th, 2013
11:11 am
OK, the Obama Recovery calls.
Time to leave the GOP’s Impotent Army and faketriots hurling their impotent insults at America.
Kick ass, libs!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_jHY1CXK0I
Uh Huh....Nonsensical Idea
January 17th, 2013
11:11 am
@Paddy O
January 17th, 2013
10:57 am
anybody here want to move to liberally oriented NJ? there a 1600 square foot ranch in Pine Brook, NJ – valued at $300,000 pays almost $8800 per year in property tax. Does that sound like an efficient gov’t to anybody here?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
What does New Jersey have to do with this??????
IRISH PROVERB
Drink is the curse of the land.
It makes PADDY O fight with his neighbor.
It makes him shoot at his landlord and it makes him miss.
stands for decibels
January 17th, 2013
11:12 am
So that’s the question to the NRA people – are we really any safer with all of the places guns can be currently carried and will we be any safer by adding additional locations? The metrics nation-wide don’t seem to say that we will be.
Cue the “Gun Free Skool Zones Didn’t Protect the Skool so FAILY FAIL!” crew in 3…2…1…
(do any of those guys know what “gun free zones” are actually set up to accomplish? Here is a hint: they weren’t intended, AFAIK, to simply scare lunatics from shooting people with the power of their awesome signage.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun-Free_School_Zones_Act_of_1990
Corbin Sharpe. Baby Boomer...and Ban the Gun Thug!
January 17th, 2013
11:12 am
Veteran Observer…
When that day comes, I hope you are out in front leading the charge. I doubt it, but I hope so…
risk
January 17th, 2013
11:12 am
“If you want to rejuvate that aspect of the Second Amendment, you have to be willing to grant private citizens access to fully automatic weapons, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, grenade launchers, etc. And it’s not going to happen.”
You do know that private citizens can in fact own all of those things you mentioned right? It’s just regulated under the National Firearm Act.
Paul
January 17th, 2013
11:13 am
von
“Unless that amendment got overturned when I wasnt looking I am pretty sure that supersedes ANYTHING Jay mentioned in his diatribe, supersedes anything Scalia has ever said or wrote.”
Scalia’s title is “Justice.” He got that ’cause he’s part of this thing called the Supreme Court. The Constitution refers to it as part of the Judicial Branch. It’s duties include settling controversies, like interpretations of the Constitution. It’s what they do.
So when Justice Scalia authors an opinion, and that opinion results in a majority decision, the majority decision becomes law.
Even if a bunch of ordinary people don’t like it.
stands for decibels
January 17th, 2013
11:13 am
valued at $300,000 pays almost $8800 per year in property tax.
That’s what the market bears. Why do you hate the free market? Why do you embrace Marxism?
keith
January 17th, 2013
11:14 am
Kieth,
You keep bringing up the Viet Nam conflict as a reason for our right to bear arms here. You are obviously very young, or very ill informed by what happened. As a Viet Nam combat veteran, I’m dismayed at your words…and I’m amazed that Scout hasn’t put you straight. Let me do it. We fought two kinds of enemies there. the NVA, North Vietnamese Army, and the farmer fighter known as the Viet Cong. The former was Mostly Chinese trained and were very capable. The Cong were capable too, added with damned devious. But with this, it wasn’t those two that whipped us. It was our own government heaping rules upon rules for combat upon us. We were never allowed off the leash to fight the way we could win. Your argument doesn’t hold water.
So you think that obama would uleash the military on your fellow American citizens in order to win? Had the war you fought been right here against Americans would you follow orders?
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 17th, 2013
11:15 am
Dang Fred… I forgot to mention you…. I’m sure in your head your probably sitting with all these people right now…..
I am now Fred too?
Does that mean I get to drink his bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue?
Recon 0311 2533
January 17th, 2013
11:15 am
It would seem based on what appears to be reluctance in the Senate to take any significant action on Obama’s proposal to ban certain firearms and ammunition a dead issue for additional gun control. That leaves the executive actions mostly taken from NRA recommendations. I think it will be a test of Obama’s leadership as well as his sincerity to protect children by how well he does on following through with these executive actions.
Granny Godzilla
January 17th, 2013
11:16 am
williebkind
January 17th, 2013
11:11 am
“Someone IS going to snap.”
The last two massive murders were done by liberals.
.
.
.
.
Really?
Proceed williebkind, proceed.
the northern alliance (afganistan, circa 1980)
January 17th, 2013
11:18 am
Scalia aside and admitedly we had a few side winders from your CIA, our limited weaponry did quite well against the Soviet army…”Blunt” speech is good, blunt mind is not….Seems that that libian fellow had lots of “sophisticated ” weaponary..wonder what he thinks….???? Those that forget history are doomed to repeat it…..
Corbin Sharpe. Baby Boomer...and Ban the Gun Thug!
January 17th, 2013
11:19 am
Kieth,
I said nothing about PRESIDENT Obama unleashing troops on our people. I called you out for your ignorant statements. If you are so scared of our president, I suggest you dig your hidy hole and dive in. It’s only four more years you have to be scared. Get a grip son.
Paul
January 17th, 2013
11:20 am
Pleasant weekend, all -
(and for all the rest who are part of I am You and You are Me and We are all Together – hang tough!)
curious
January 17th, 2013
11:20 am
There are some delusional posters here today.
Never would have imagined how many Constitutional Scholars there are in Georgia and posting here.
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 17th, 2013
11:21 am
Granny Godzilla
Granny Godzilla
January 17th, 2013
11:22 am
Kam
XO XO XO
Corbin Sharpe. Baby Boomer...and Ban the Gun Thug!
January 17th, 2013
11:22 am
KIETH,
“So you think that obama would uleash the military on your fellow American citizens in order to win? Had the war you fought been right here against Americans would you follow orders?”
If I were a member of the military and my Commander In Chief told me to fight members of my country who were committing acts of insurrection, the answer is a most emphatic YES!
Reality
January 17th, 2013
11:22 am
There is no reasoning with most con repubs. They use no real logic. Most of them cannot even explain why they believe what they believe.
If they do make an attempt, all they can do is repeat cliche remarks they may have heard on talk radio or on FOX news.
Uh Huh....Nonsensical Idea
January 17th, 2013
11:23 am
@williebkind
January 17th, 2013
11:11 am
“Someone IS going to snap.”
The last two massive murders were done by liberals. I guess you guys keep waiting for someone who calls themselves conservative to commit such an act
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
According to the film, ‘The Life of David Gale’, with Kevin Spacey, and kate Winslet.
One of the points made in it, was that most of those deranged killers were Republicans.
I wonder how much trueth there is to it. It’d certainly seem so on the surface.
Goldie
January 17th, 2013
11:24 am
I’m still waiting for all these domestic-terrorism supporters and assault weapons-lovers here on Jay’s blog to renounce their U.S. citizenship and follow thru with their promises to “secede” from the Union after Our President was re-elected in 2012 — so what are y’all waitin’ on???
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 17th, 2013
11:24 am
Granny Godzilla
Next door at Cynthia’s, you and I were accused many times of being her.
Aquagirl
January 17th, 2013
11:25 am
Northern Alliance, were you trying to demonstrate the effectiveness of your opium products?
rightwingextreme
January 17th, 2013
11:25 am
Butch Cassidy (I)
January 17th, 2013
10:30 am
keith – “but bookman wants to protect tyranny by disarming us.”
I’ve got $10,000 says that no one will take away your guns or make you turn them in. You in?
diane feinstien, gov cuomo for starters. you can make those checks payable to rightwingextreme.
Peadawg
January 17th, 2013
11:27 am
“Next door at Cynthia’s, you and I were accused many times of being her.”
That’s b/c you were the about the only 2 people on Cynthia’s blogged that liked and supported her.
Erwin's cat
January 17th, 2013
11:27 am
I’m Spartacus.
I am the night rider!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3xjSH62aP4
Banderson
January 17th, 2013
11:28 am
What’s with all the fake Hitler quotes? Also, the quote from the person who was supposedly the dean of Chicago’s law school is as real as Manti Te’o’s girlfriend.
Devil's Advocate
January 17th, 2013
11:28 am
You know, I consider myself pretty moderate. I was raised in Democratic family but back in the day that didn’t mean you were extremely liberal. To be honest, when I reflect on my upbringing, it was very conservative and that includes firearms in the household, working to earn a good living (meaning living within your means, not being defined exclusively by your income as there are no rich people in my family history), and personal responsibility. However, while my father recognized the importance of the NRA, he was not a big supporter of them. I myself as an adult do not even own a firearm.
That said, I think this column is off today. Somehow, Jay is suggesting that supporters of the Second Amendment have defined it to mean citizens need to have equal access to military might. That is a very immature position and I’m pretty surprised Jay would lean on it. The right to keep and bear arms is pretty simple. You can own weapons. I don’t recall Second Amendment supporters asking for access to nuclear warheads or Patriot missiles, although a few might want to take out drones.
As for revolutions and revolts, they are what they are and it’s not up to people like Jay to say what may or may not happen going forward. America is no immune to political unrest and it is quite arrogant to suggest such. Look what happened in England last year with all the riots over something politically simple. And we’re supposed to model our society’s tolerance of violence after them? Please…
Yes, the US military is technologically more advanced than a militia of citizens. That doesn’t change the fact that being shot is being shot. The number of bullets and the rate of fire quickly become irrelevant after being hit.
Jay also ignores the human element. Who makes up the US military? It’s not about the leaders, the men and women under command can choose sides you know. At one point, Jay suggests that there will never be a reason for a revolt then he goes on to suggest that if the military ever came into conflict with citizens that it wouldn’t be a contest. Can’t have it both ways. What if members of the military defect? You think the war in the Middle East is difficult, you really think air strikes will work on US soil? It would be a ground war and sides would quickly even out as I would assume many military personnel would side with their family and friends over the chain of command. Members of the military are not mindless.
Jay, you do bring up valid points in and of themselves, but those points don’t land where you want them to in regard to the Second Amendment and treason. Treason is not exclusive to common citizens as our elected officials are also subject to commit treason. It is a 2-way street; don’t forget that important point.
View from a Brit
January 17th, 2013
11:29 am
It’s appropriate that each of you should have a gun.
Granny Godzilla
January 17th, 2013
11:29 am
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 17th, 2013
11:24 am
Granny Godzilla
Next door at Cynthia’s, you and I were accused many times of being her
.
.
.
.
And we were both flattered…..
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 17th, 2013
11:30 am
I am the night rider!
You are David Hasselhoff?
Brother, I don’t think I’d a told that.
Real Scootter
January 17th, 2013
11:30 am
Next door at Cynthia’s, you and I were accused many times of being her.
If memory serves me correctly,you have been accused of it here at Jay’s too.
Oscar
January 17th, 2013
11:32 am
In Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanstan our military was unable to win a military victory over people with nothing except small arms and home made bombs.
On the other hand, in Egypy, India and other places in the last century governments have been overthrown by non violent demonstrations.
Changes were made in the US in the sixties with non violence.
I would chose the non violence. Seems a lot less destructive and bloody, and just as effective.
keith
January 17th, 2013
11:32 am
if one fights to preserve the Constitution its not insurrection. its patriotism. Too bad the European Jews didnt have the means to fight the Nazis but they had no right to bear arms. No NRA to protect their rights. And millions of jews were slaughtered as a result. Is that what you want here?
Fly-On-The-Wall
January 17th, 2013
11:33 am
Williebking – do you think that everyone who carries a gun or commits a crime is a liberal? Seems that way so you can justify your arguments in your mind.
Reality
January 17th, 2013
11:33 am
Meth doesn’t kill people. People do.
Cigarettes don’t kill people. People do.
Hey! This works for everything!!!
keith
January 17th, 2013
11:34 am
Based on the comments made on here from the left its obvious they would cheer on a govt that would exterminate those who voice opposing views.
Welcome to the Occupation
January 17th, 2013
11:34 am
northern alliance: “Scalia aside and admitedly we had a few side winders from your CIA, our limited weaponry did quite well against the Soviet army…”
One very important aspect of this debate that has gone completely unremarked, including in the endlessly cited, boring example of Hitler’s gun laws, is the issue of paramilitary groups in general, groups which are growing in our age and which were very important in Germany, to name one example, in the period after WWI, i.e. in the Weimar era. This question needs to be discussed in more detail in its historical context to bring into view another critical aspect of the gun controversy.
keith
January 17th, 2013
11:36 am
Have any of you anti-gun zealots place gunfree zone signs in front of your homes yet? if not, why not? Dont you want everyone to know how strongly you feel about it?
Oscar
January 17th, 2013
11:36 am
Keith – Jews in Germany were a small minority. The majority of Germans could have overthrown Hitler but didn’t.
There were not enough Jews to protect themselves.
barking frog
January 17th, 2013
11:36 am
Granny Godzilla is a figment of Cynthia’s imagination but
Kamchak was banned by Cynthia while he was being
namejacked.
Buzz Belle
January 17th, 2013
11:37 am
There are some really, really delusional, scary people on this blog and I get the feeling they own guns. What happen to common sense? I said yesterday and although I haven’t read all 6 pages of this blog, the truth is the 2nd Amendment was written so “a” tyrannical government could not run over its citizens. Scalia is correct in this case. Unless our citizens have nuclear weapons, missles or the like, that whole amendment thing flew the coop a long, long time ago. Everybody needs to calm down. For the gun people, how many and type of guns will you be allowed to own if this becoms law? Yep, you can still kill your deer, duck, bear, whatever. You can still protect your family and home, you just can’t have an assault rifle that will kill your neighborhood. Get it now?
keith
January 17th, 2013
11:37 am
There were not enough JEWS WITH GUNS to protect themselves.
Aquagirl
January 17th, 2013
11:37 am
the quote from the person who was supposedly the dean of Chicago’s law school is as real as Manti Te’o’s girlfriend.
Ouch.
Goldie
January 17th, 2013
11:38 am
So, again what is the purpose of civilians owning military-style weaponry???
Kamchak ~ Thug from the Steppes
January 17th, 2013
11:38 am
Kamchak was banned by Cynthia while he was being
namejacked.
Just once, and however she did it I wasn’t affected.
Oscar
January 17th, 2013
11:39 am
Keith – You are only a patriot if you win. Like George Washington and the other rebels against the government.
If you lose you are considered a traitor – Robert E. Lee is considered a traitor by people north of Virginia.
Corbin Sharpe. Baby Boomer...and Ban the Gun Thug!
January 17th, 2013
11:39 am
OSCAR,
Kieth is a troll, it’s best to just ignore him…
Uh Huh....Nonsensical Idea
January 17th, 2013
11:39 am
@Christian Conservative
January 17th, 2013
11:09 am
Uh Huh….Nonsensical Idea:
Nice name change.. But anyway I’m actually a thinker… Unlike most on the left… Consider that very very few people in the bright red state of Georgia think the way Bookman does where would you people come from?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Don’t worry about my name. Its not what you call me..but what I answer to.
IF..IF you were a thniker you would know that there are a LOT of
people who THINK LIKE JAY.
Georgia Political Parties:
Georgia Democratic Party
Georgia Republican Party
Libertarian Party of Georgia
keith
January 17th, 2013
11:40 am
Oscar, Amazon.com sells gunfree zone signs. Why not get one to display outside your home? It would really show how committed you are to your cause.
stands for decibels
January 17th, 2013
11:40 am
“To conquer a nation you first must disarm the citizens” Adolf Hitler
“To enthrall wingnuts you first must provide fake Hitler quotes.”
–Adolf “TJ” Hitler
Joe Hussein Mama
January 17th, 2013
11:41 am
keith — “if one fights to preserve the Constitution its not insurrection. its patriotism.”
Then why aren’t you “fighting” *now?*
If your rights are under attack, as you appear to believe, why haven’t you taken up arms already and begun to ‘fight back?’
Do you actually have the courage of your convictions?
Goldie
January 17th, 2013
11:41 am
Next thing we know, the assault weapons supporters will be promoting everyone to obtain plutonium and defending the right to create dirty bombs — where does it end with you wingnuts???
keith
January 17th, 2013
11:42 am
So, again what is the purpose of civilians owning military-style weaponry???
the people using them to protect their property during the LA Riots could give you a really good answer.
Reich Wingers always wrong
January 17th, 2013
11:42 am
The Founders of this Republic were experienced, sophisticated political men. They did not create government at the mercy of insurrectionists. The immediate purpose for writing a constitution in 1787 was to create a strong central government which had the capacity, among others, to suppress the numerous rebellions (Shays’s, the most famous) that cropped up in the chaotic aftermath of the American Revolution. The armed populace language the gun lobby quotes from that period to support its doctrine describes the 18th century militia. The militias were commanded by state governors. “Suppress insurrections” was almost invariably paired with “repel invasions” to describe the functions of the militia. In context, the original language is clear that the militiamen were armed for the State not against it.
Partisay
January 17th, 2013
11:42 am
Based on the comments made on here from the left its obvious they would cheer on a govt that would exterminate those who voice opposing views.
Wow, Keith….exterminate?? can you give us some examples of those comments you’ve read today that would make you think that?
Oscar
January 17th, 2013
11:42 am
Keith – I have five guns in the house. That would be false advertising.
TiredOfIt
January 17th, 2013
11:42 am
I have guns and my neighbors have guns, but I have never heard any of them spew this NRA paranoid propaganda crap. It must really suck to be you all.
Fly-On-The-Wall
January 17th, 2013
11:43 am
Some here seem to think that any changes to an amendment is akin to changing the Bible. I don’t feel that way at all. I think we can make common sense changes/updates to amendments without taking away the rights of the people. No one here is suggesting that ALL guns be taken away, only that the weapons used in most of the recent mass shootings be controlled along with the large magazines used at those same mass shootings. I do not see that as an infringement on my 2nd Amendment rights. I can still buy a gun or as many guns as I want but I would not be able to buy THAT type of weapon or a magazine that extents beyond what the standard mag gives.
Bottom line is I can still buy guns & ammo.
keith
January 17th, 2013
11:43 am
Anyone thats anti-gun and does not have a gunfree zone sign outside their home is a hypocrite.
GT
January 17th, 2013
11:43 am
The Waffle House gang always comes to mind in these discussions. A table of old, dimwitted, cranky men who seemed to have never traveled at the speed of the river of life: publically meeting and plotting the assassination of judges, the demolition of courthouses as if they were in a Kremlin conference room as opposed to a North Georgia slope house.
What would make these undraftable nonsuperhero types think a little dynamite there, an assassination here and wala we have won a revolution against their own country. I venture it was FOX. The ever unfactual news network that makes our country sound weak enough that a child with a cap gun could pull a Stg. York imitation and rein as ruler of all he sees.
When caught this gang that could not shoot straight got a too late lesson on who the enemy really was. It was them, and the supposed enemy the U.S. government was nothing like the description given them by their FOX reporters. Now their defense was we were just full of hot air we weren’t going to do anything. I guess what they should have done is called the NRA for a spokesman to explain the government the real situation not what our lying eyes said it was.
Scuba Steve
January 17th, 2013
11:45 am
I try so hard to come here and not insult many of you backwoods, red-clay Georgia idiots.
Then I read the comments. You just make it so easy. I try so dang hard guys!
And I’m from Texas. That ought to tell you something.
Oscar
January 17th, 2013
11:45 am
Corbin – Will do. Should have picked up on that myself.
Partisay
January 17th, 2013
11:45 am
And Keith, is that in any way like President Bush’s “free speech zones” that were put out of eye sight of him, so if you wanted to stand and hold a sign against his policies, he would never see them? Kinda like that? Except without the extermination?
Dave
January 17th, 2013
11:45 am
Do you really think the member of the United States Military would turn on the citizens of this country? As retired vet I can assure you the majority would not – therefore a lot of military weapons would be available to the citizens.
mx200394
January 17th, 2013
11:46 am
Now what the writer does not understand, the people of the USA can in fact own armored tanks, rocket launchers, Grenade launchers, Fully Auto Rifles, Fully Auto Hand guns, Semi Auto Rifles, and Hand Guns, Bullet proof armor, Combat Helmets, Combat Uniforms, All the tools of the trade to fight off any military there is. I do not own guns to protect my home, I own my armory to protect my family, friends, and community from treats from outside or inside this country. I do highly doubt anyone would invade our country like Germany did with Poland, but I do believe that no one in the USA knows what they want for our country. Removing or Disarming America would start a war with gun owners and the UN (Who is the only ones who will be call to aid the Government if it is attacked by the people. If you do not believe me ask your own Armed Forces who they would protect first, the people or the government if they fought. I included.) This war would in fact rein anarchy because we all have different ideas of what the country should be, even I. I will also say, I refuse to disarm because if a armed force wishes to treat THE PEOPLE badly I am more than willing to lay down my life to protect and preserve the freedoms our country was founded on for my child, and the other children of this country, for freedom is a gift and from being in countries like Russia, England, Poland, Afghanistan, and Somalia. I will say our government is starting to act a lot like Russia, and Somalia. Where the government controls people and the people do not know what they want from the government. I am for the people, the government is only meant to protect my rights and tell the ones who do not know their rights what they mean. Amendments are meant to protect the people. Removing our fire power shows they do not want us to be protected from Morther Land America.
keith
January 17th, 2013
11:47 am
i happen to own numerous so-called assault weapons. They must be defective, they havent assaulted anyone.
Scuba Steve
January 17th, 2013
11:47 am
Keith — I’m anti-smoking. Don’t have a “Smoke Free Zone” sign outside my house.
Dang I’m a hypocrite! How many teeth do you have?
John Daly
January 17th, 2013
11:47 am
Jay, you base your argument on a partially false assumption. The first line of the holding in the case reads ” 1. The Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home.” The finding was not based on the potential purpose of overthrowing the government but found it to be a fundamental right within the Constitution. The term fundamental right has specific meaning within law as a basic or foundational right, derived from natural law; a right deemed by the Supreme Court to receive the highest level of Constitutional protection against government interference.
BOB FROM ACCOUNT TEMPS
January 17th, 2013
11:48 am
So the bigger questions jay: will law enforcement and the military take up arms against the tax paying citizens in an effort by the government to thwart the constitution? Will they go door-to-door to disarm the public when the public refuses to surrender their megar weapons?
Goldie
January 17th, 2013
11:48 am
“Anyone thats anti-gun and does not have a gunfree zone sign outside their home is a hypocrite.”
Who is “anti-gun” here, keith? Are you unable to comprehend the English language when we keep repeating “no military-style weapons” should sold to civilians???
LOL– Good grief… too many loonies with assault weapons in America today!
kayaker 71
January 17th, 2013
11:48 am
So, we are to believe that the next time a crazy dude or two kicks in your front door and gains access to your home that we are supposed to “reason” with him, invite him and his pals in for a beer, offer up your wife or your daughter …… any number of things that liberals dwell on. No thanks…. I’ll keep my 12 Ga and, as Aquagirl is so quick to point out, will stroke it if necessary to put as many holes into that animal as humanly possible. Liberals operate on the premise that these animals have a conscience, some sense of fairness. Nothing could be further from the truth. They prey on the old, women, children and those not able to defend themselves. If most of these animals knew that there was a 12 ga right behind that door they are about to kick in, there would be many fewer home invasions. So liberals, if you don’t want a gun, don’t buy one. Just keep your hands off of mine.
barking frog
January 17th, 2013
11:49 am
The 3 million armed NRA members are quite an army. Should
the government expect them to take up arms if the Feinstein
bill passes ?
Real Scootter
January 17th, 2013
11:50 am
If your rights are under attack, as you appear to believe, why haven’t you taken up arms already and begun to ‘fight back?’
He plans to do that JHM.Right after he is finished terrorizing y’all first!
keith
January 17th, 2013
11:50 am
i dont care if you dont think i should have that type of gun. I do. period!