Wednesday, February 06, 2008
The Respondent's Brief
Here, in PDF form, is the 80 plus page brief of the Respondent, that is, the pro gun rights brief in the Supreme Court case, District of Columbia v. Heller. I can't imagine an issue here not well covered by the brief. It appears, however, that the authors of the brief have strategically decided to abandon full auto weapons and cannons, etc. (all useful to a well regulated militia) and only ask that the 2nd Amendment apply to militia useful weapons which are "in comon use at the time". This is also a reaction to the last case the Supreme Court decided regarding the 2nd Amendment, United States v. Miller, which is looking ever less wise over the years. This 'in common use at the time' requirement is not anywhere in the language, or in the umbras and penumbras, of the 2nd Amendment and appears to be made up out of whole cloth to defang the "You want anyone to have a machine gun? What about an atom bomb?" idiocy. Pity, really. It is a disappointment for gun purists, for sure.
Labels: Heller Case, Second Amendment
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Funny if the Deception Wasn't so Sad
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Rational Anti-Gun Arguments
Walter Shapiro, the Washington DC bureau chief for Salon.com (how does that place continue to exist? Last time I heard it was 88 million in debt), makes the rational, but wrong, argument that we could cut down on gun violence by repeal of the Second Amendment. Bring it on, Walter.
At least he is bold enough to acknowledge that the "throwback" Second Amendment stands in the way of gun bans. He's pretty arrogant for someone so lacking in basic analytical skills about the issue.
Money quote:
Times change, generations pass and attitudes evolve. As fears of crime recede in many places, nervous homeowners may no longer be obsessed with having a .45 by the bedside to blow away phantom intruders.
I was about to say as soon as crime is gone, I'll give up my guns, but I won't. I don't keep them for self defense or hunting (although I do go hunting). I keep them because I like to shoot paper targets, I like to increase my skill in this oh so 18th Century pasttime, according to Shapiro.
Please, lefties, listen to this guy and make the wasteful (and even counterproductive) political effort to repeal the Second Amendment. You can do it.
At least he is bold enough to acknowledge that the "throwback" Second Amendment stands in the way of gun bans. He's pretty arrogant for someone so lacking in basic analytical skills about the issue.
Money quote:
Times change, generations pass and attitudes evolve. As fears of crime recede in many places, nervous homeowners may no longer be obsessed with having a .45 by the bedside to blow away phantom intruders.
I was about to say as soon as crime is gone, I'll give up my guns, but I won't. I don't keep them for self defense or hunting (although I do go hunting). I keep them because I like to shoot paper targets, I like to increase my skill in this oh so 18th Century pasttime, according to Shapiro.
Please, lefties, listen to this guy and make the wasteful (and even counterproductive) political effort to repeal the Second Amendment. You can do it.
Labels: Second Amendment
