"Certainly, when you have the notion of "well-regulated" right in the constitutional language itself, it seems to defy any argument that regulation is inconsistent with the amendment."
Meh. Let's see the local chapter of the ACLU weigh in on behalf of the Second Amendment in at least one state whose population isn't overwhelmingly pro-gun, and then I might pretend to care. Maybe.
My understanding is that a good number of state ACLU chapters are pro2A and can often differ from national on a lot of issues. Tom Gresham had a representative from a state chapter (I think Louisiana) trying to help a man get his guns back after they were confiscated (post Katrina) and he wasn't even charged wit ha crime but they kept his gun.
Honestly until the National ACLU recognizes the 2nd Amendment as an individual right and self defense as human right I'm not jumping up and down to celebrate. Strossen's not taking the historical context on "well-regulated" and thinking up what she wants it to mean today (or as of 2003) is a prefect example of National's issues with fooling themselves into not supporting this key right.
I'd say our firearms usage is already well-regulated in the sense there's plenty of laws regarding the conduct of carry & ownership. Only those fools who hate guns see firearms as being "unregulated".
"Well-regulated" in the Founding Fathers day didn't mean regulations or rules like today, it mean properly functioning. That really changes how you read that first half when you understand the English of the day and that the irregular millita (which was important to winning the Revolution against the best army of the day) was every male citizen 15-50ish.
If the National ACLU interpreted the Second Amendment the way the do the First, they would be suing the Fed.Gov to provide free hand guns and real assualt rifles (i.e. with the magic happy selector postion, not just anything a J School grad finds scary) and ammo to any citizen that could not afford it.
You forgot to mention the way she conveniently leaves out the words "THE PEOPLE" in the 2A.
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I was under the impression that the Nevada chapter changed its tune right after Heller.
Yep: http://www.aclunv.org/aclu-nevada-supports-individual’s-right-bear-arms That page's post date is June 27, 2008 with the same verbiage.
D'OH! Good catch Justin. Note made.
"Certainly, when you have the notion of "well-regulated" right in the constitutional language itself, it seems to defy any argument that regulation is inconsistent with the amendment."
Ouch. That made my brain hurt.
I thought the Texas chapter of the ACLU was also pro-2nd Amendment. . .
Meh. Let's see the local chapter of the ACLU weigh in on behalf of the Second Amendment in at least one state whose population isn't overwhelmingly pro-gun, and then I might pretend to care. Maybe.
After the revolution, the re-written Constitution won't have any of the ambiguity. By "well-regulated" the Founders obviously meant well-trained.
Didn't the Texas ACLU chapter also come out in favor of private arms a few years back? I'm pretty sure Nevada's not the first...
My understanding is that a good number of state ACLU chapters are pro2A and can often differ from national on a lot of issues. Tom Gresham had a representative from a state chapter (I think Louisiana) trying to help a man get his guns back after they were confiscated (post Katrina) and he wasn't even charged wit ha crime but they kept his gun.
Honestly until the National ACLU recognizes the 2nd Amendment as an individual right and self defense as human right I'm not jumping up and down to celebrate. Strossen's not taking the historical context on "well-regulated" and thinking up what she wants it to mean today (or as of 2003) is a prefect example of National's issues with fooling themselves into not supporting this key right.
I'd say our firearms usage is already well-regulated in the sense there's plenty of laws regarding the conduct of carry & ownership. Only those fools who hate guns see firearms as being "unregulated".
"Well-regulated" in the Founding Fathers day didn't mean regulations or rules like today, it mean properly functioning. That really changes how you read that first half when you understand the English of the day and that the irregular millita (which was important to winning the Revolution against the best army of the day) was every male citizen 15-50ish.
If the National ACLU interpreted the Second Amendment the way the do the First, they would be suing the Fed.Gov to provide free hand guns and real assualt rifles (i.e. with the magic happy selector postion, not just anything a J School grad finds scary) and ammo to any citizen that could not afford it.
" subject to constitutionally permissible regulations,"
ummm, there are none.
and nadine didn't even get the verbiage correct - here's the real thing:
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.
You forgot to mention the way she conveniently leaves out the words "THE PEOPLE" in the 2A.
Note: All avatars and any images or other media embedded in comments were hosted on the JS-Kit website and have been lost; references to haloscan comments have been partially automatically remapped, but accuracy is not guaranteed and corrections are solicited.
If you notice any problems with this page or wish to have your home page link updated, please contact John Hardin <jhardin@impsec.org>