Tag: Firearms

It appears as though she has the brilliant (and I use that word with the most liberal application of snark applied) idea of "compromising" with individuals who are scared of inanimate objects by allowing concealed carry of a firearm at the expense of prohibiting open carry (http://www.schoolnewsnetwork.org/news/?rID=2036).

I would like explain why open carry is, in fact, the best way of stopping the erosion of our naturally granted right to self defense.

The award is given to 3 or 4 each year, with a 'Grand Defender' being chosen from those, and announced during the annual constitution celebration event in Acme MI. This year's event is Sept 15.  The award reads:

"Has been recognized by the Constitution Celebration Committee and membership as a person of  indefatigable character,  who abides by the laws of our country, and defends with vigor, the principles of its founding by lawful means.

This persons' actions have had a positive impact on the community, and have promoted a better understanding of our founding documents through writings or actions and has shown  a willingness to resist usurpation of the rights granted by our Constitution.                    

This defender specifically represented his community as a 2nd amendment advocate, not when it was convenient, but as infringement by other authority was being advanced. He supported the United States Constitution through outreach and strength, with unfailing dedication towards preserving tradition for our children and beyond."

This video provides a pretty good explanation WHY this Sheriff was chosen.

We thank him.

Originally posted at Random Rants, but I thought I would bring it over here as well - as a general discussion of liberties.

That's right, you read it in the title. Gun control, by its very nature, is logically fallible. In fact, the subject in particular doesn't, and rather, shouldn't, require that statistics about "how many people killed themselves with a gun" or "how many times a firearm was used in self defense" be put in play.

The use of statistics, when done within the context of governmental regulation, does nothing but introduce the use of arbitrary metrics down the road. Indeed, decisions like these need to be made in the private sector, such as when a business needs to decide whether or not to take action y based on information x. But I digress - liberties, including those of firearms ownership, shouldn't be based off of these type of decisions.

For example, someone might claim that saving one life is worth the firearms restrictions placed on x number of other people is worth it. Is it though? Who is to make that call? What if those restrictions save even 10 lives, but as a result, cost the lives of 20 others because they couldn't defend themselves? Who is the government to make that kind of decision? Where do we draw the line? Those previous two questions are examples of exactly WHY statistics shouldn't factor into the debate.

Anyways, of course the feds don't like being challenged, and in the case of the BATFE, will claim that the state law doesn't mean anything. The same effectively holds true on the medical marijuana side of the coin as well.

Of course these are just two areas that I've used as examples. There are many more, one of which is the issue of the EPA declaring that they will regulate CO2 emissions if congress doesn't act, and states responding with a lawsuit.

Despite the many areas in which states can, or have, pushed for their sovereignty, I chose to use these two examples because of the way that the government likes to handle violations in those areas - usually violently.

It's one thing for the state to declare their sovereignty in one of these areas, but unless they are actually willing to take action against federal agents who go against these declarations and laws, it's all talk.

Wyoming's firearms freedom act is a good start in regards to this. Not only does the law tell the federal government to bugger off, but that attempts by federal agents to apply federal law to state produced and held firearms will subject the agents to jail time.

Like I said though, it's a start. Reading the article further, you'll see that Rep. Allen Jaggi claims that particular section of the law to be symbolic.

If that's the case, then why have it?

Not only that, but the article further continued to mention that if current litigation regarding Montana's firearms freedom act don't pan out, they might try with Wyoming's.

Let's be perfectly honest: The chance of a federal court actually ruling in favor of a state's 10th Amendments rights? Probably not. Cases like Wickard v. Filburn show the love federal courts have for a bloated interpretation of the ICC.

Even if there was a ruling in favor of the state law (keep in mind that the state itself is not a party in the suit) at the trial court level, I have lower expectations for a win in an appellate court. In the event it goes before the SCOTUS (and I wouldn't be surprised if they deny writ), I wouldn't make any bets.

I'm not going sugar coat things. In the event states pass laws which expressly indicate to the federal government that they're done dicking around in regards to the 10th Amendment - i.e. these laws, like the one example I mentioned already, have provisions for imprisoning law enforcement agents found to be in violation - they need to be willing to back it up regardless of what the SCOTUS or any other federal court thinks.

Yes, if that means telling the federal government "ef you very much, we're not releasing your guy", then that's what should happen. At that point, the dice should just let fall where they will. We didn't break off from Britain because some royal court ruled it constitutional, and states aren't going to nullify unconstitutional laws if they don't push when the pushing is needed.