OPINION PAGE
Monday, November 26, 2007
Targeting guns
Supreme Court will hear D.C. handgun case
In a case that could have a profound impact on public safety, for better or worse, the U.S. Supreme Court will review the constitutional standard established nearly seven decades ago. With gun-related violence epidemic, the government’s authority to limit nonmilitary possession of firearms must not be compromised.
The Second Amendment states, “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” In 1939, the court correctly ruled the “right to bear arms” must be understood in the context of military service. Indeed, the Founders worded the amendment to emphasize that.
The case at hand challenges a District of Columbia law barring handguns in private homes for private use. A ruling against the district law might not set an ironclad precedent applying to states as well, but it would provide legal ammunition for gun advocates trying to shoot down gun-control statutes across the country.
It is absurd to assert that government may not control deadly weapons, at the very least to the extent it controls cars, baby cribs and other items that that have no intent toward violence.
National Safety Council data show there were 30,242 firearms-related deaths in 2002, a carnage viewed in other Western democracies with horror and disbelief.
The U.S. gun lobby has skillfully expunged the “well-regulated militia” issue from the gun-control debate and has promoted the canard that any limits on gun ownership infringe on a fundamental, even sacred right.
In fact, the Second Amendment no more confers an absolute right to bear arms than the First Amendment allows one to yell “Fire!” in a crowded theater. That principle, affirmed by the Supreme Court in 1939, should be reiterated and reinforced in the current Supreme Court session.
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What crap.
There are some good comments getting posted on their site about it. Link is on main telegram.com page.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Targeting guns
Supreme Court will hear D.C. handgun case
In a case that could have a profound impact on public safety, for better or worse, the U.S. Supreme Court will review the constitutional standard established nearly seven decades ago. With gun-related violence epidemic, the government’s authority to limit nonmilitary possession of firearms must not be compromised.
The Second Amendment states, “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” In 1939, the court correctly ruled the “right to bear arms” must be understood in the context of military service. Indeed, the Founders worded the amendment to emphasize that.
The case at hand challenges a District of Columbia law barring handguns in private homes for private use. A ruling against the district law might not set an ironclad precedent applying to states as well, but it would provide legal ammunition for gun advocates trying to shoot down gun-control statutes across the country.
It is absurd to assert that government may not control deadly weapons, at the very least to the extent it controls cars, baby cribs and other items that that have no intent toward violence.
National Safety Council data show there were 30,242 firearms-related deaths in 2002, a carnage viewed in other Western democracies with horror and disbelief.
The U.S. gun lobby has skillfully expunged the “well-regulated militia” issue from the gun-control debate and has promoted the canard that any limits on gun ownership infringe on a fundamental, even sacred right.
In fact, the Second Amendment no more confers an absolute right to bear arms than the First Amendment allows one to yell “Fire!” in a crowded theater. That principle, affirmed by the Supreme Court in 1939, should be reiterated and reinforced in the current Supreme Court session.
--------
What crap.
There are some good comments getting posted on their site about it. Link is on main telegram.com page.
![[shocked]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/007.gif "Shocked [shocked]")
