7/06/2008

The ACLU on the Heller Decision

The ACLU says that it values people's comments regarding its stand that the 2nd Amendment is not an individual right. I have no idea whether people's input really matters, but possibly someone can get the ACLU to explain why a guarantee of government rights would be part of the Bill of Rights and why the term "the right of the people" shouldn't be interpreted the same way here that it is in other places.

Thanks to Alec Dawson for sending this to me.

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5 Comments:

Blogger James said...

You know, I've read a lot of pro-gun control stuff, but not once have I seen anyone attempt to address why the founders would see the need to guarantee the gov't the right to own firearms.

7/07/2008 10:42 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

So the American Civil Liberties Union disagrees with the Supreme Court when they affirm a Civil Liberty that the vast majority of all Americans believe in and support, is that about right?

So if they aren't siding with Americans, and they aren't siding with Civil Liberties even when expressley adopted by the Supreme Court, shouldn't they change their name?

How about: Anti-American Communist and Liberals Union? That way they can still keep the acronym.

7/07/2008 11:47 AM  
Blogger rosserjb@jmu.edu said...

John,

Well, your fave countries with lots of guns and low homicide rates, Israel and Switzerland, have them in connection with "well-reglated militias," which phrase is in the opening of the Second Amendment.

BTW, do you agree with the studies that show that deaths by suicide in DC declined by 25% after the handgun ban went into effect? How much do you think the suicide rate will go up in DC by as a result of this ruling?

7/08/2008 1:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"....deaths by suicide in DC declined by 25% after the handgun ban went into effect?"

What's a handgun ban got to do with suicide? It is just as easy to blow yourself away with a rifle or shotgun as a handgun.
Can you say statistical irrelevance?

7/09/2008 1:24 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Who knows how many deaths could have been prevented if good guys were able to possess handguns for self defense as opposed to just the bad guys?

The deterrent effect alone caused by criminals not being able to tell who has a handgun for self defense and who does not would have lessened residential burglaries and home invasions.

I wonder if there has been a study of the burglary and home invasion rates of residences after the gun ban went intio effect compared to other jurisdictions.

An earlier poster mentioned Israel and Switzerland having liberal gun laws in connection with "well regulated militias." I'm not sure what Israel which did not even exist when the 2nd Amendment was enacted and Switzerland have to do with the 2nd Amendment. The founding fathers views on the right to bear arms was not informed by Israel or Switzerland. A cursory reading of the Heller decision would prove useful to rosserjb.

I'm not sure why the individual constitutional right to effective self defense ought to be curtailed by risk of suicide. Put differently, why should my right to defend myself and family in my own home be offset by your desire to take your own life?

7/09/2008 3:13 PM  

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