Monday, January 21, 2013

CONFISCATION

In the upcoming debate on gun violence the parties involved will be talking past each other. President Obama and his group will be coming from a direction, they think will reduce gun violence. Their bullet presentation (pun intended) will include procedures limiting Access to Weapons, especially Assault Weapons and High Capacity Magazines, National Background Checks, Etc. Those opposed will be arguing over several existing amendments to the Constitution, States Rights, Slippery Slope, Definitions of High Capacity Magazines and Assault Weapons, and Confiscation.

Behind the curtain of Confiscation is the main fear of an unarmed populace facing an armed central government. The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government for good reason. We had recently fought for our lives against a tyrannical strong central government. But various factors both economic and defensive, impressed upon us that for the country to survive as united states, a stronger central government was grudgingly necessary, thus the Constitution. Do you really think that James Madison authored the Bill of Rights just for the hell of it? Absolutely not! The various states would not sign off on the Constitution without these Guarantees, because they feared their own government.

It's risky to discuss the need for weapons to protect yourself with a government you want to protect yourself from. So I doubt this will come up.  How do you come clean about what is really behind the curtain? As long as Responsible citizens will not come forth and discuss the need for a well armed citizenry including Assault Weapons and High Capacity Magazines, then just the crazy, dangerous people (the ones we need to limit access to weapons) will be the spokesmen. As a matter of law it may be against the law to even discuss this topic .

So the real fear will not be broached and in the debate both sides will talk pass each other. One side will be discussing what is in front of the curtain and the other side will be NOT be discussing what is behind the curtain ... stay tuned.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Live Free Or Die?

The last great confrontation against the central government in our nation was the Civil War. Thomas Jonathan 'Stonewall' Jackson was to say in a response to spare fleeing union soldiers "kill'em, kill them all". I believe that Jackson, Lee etc. were all traitors, but that is just one person's opinion. That being noted I submit the following post concerning gun control.

I have been having some online discussions with seemingly level-headed gentlemen in Illinois. I don't know them personally, but they appear well informed regarding Illinois's gun law. The law is very comprehensive. Background checks and high fees every time you purchase a gun, no gun show loophole and other safeguards. Illinois, by the way, is the last state with no concealed weapon permit and that is currently being debated in their state legislature and courts.

They didn't bring it up, but I noted that Chicago's homicide rate is continuing its deadly rise. So, even stringent gun laws are not the total answer and gun owners may be correct in their contention that gun restrictions target law abiding citizens and do not impact gun violence. My view is that we must measure gun legislation against body count. Thus comparing Chicago's homicides to Illinois gun laws we see no impact. Citizens in Illinois are in fact more fearful and a majority wants concealed weapons permits. I asked these guys if Illinois's gun laws could be used as a model for federal legislation and that's where is gets 'hairy'. We get into the weeds about the Second and Fourteenth Amendment and I would add to the pot the Fourth Amendment.

Why this almost fanatical opposition to any perceived encroachment to the Second Amendment? I maintain that it hides in plain site. It is the word militia. I believe that there is and always has been a deep seated feeling that someday we may have to arm ourselves against our own government. Unfortunately those who state it most vehemently are the conspiracy folks who border on paranoia. Our latest example occurred recently on the Piers Morgan program.

I don't know if there is an answer that will mollify the sane but quiet opposition to any change in gun control. I don't believe that even high body counts will change these views. Because, underlying all the rhetoric, is the fear of the black helicopters.


NRA Head Feels Confident