Ttutt
.270 WIN
I saw the link to email all of my elected officials on the Mossberg Owners facebook page. So I wrote this:
The elected officials of this country are in office to serve the people. they are also to protect and defend the constitution of the United States. That constitution does not provide rights or create rights, it protects rights that already existed before the constitution was even written.
Our country has seen its share of upheaval and unrest. Revolution, Civil war, yes I'll even include Civil Rights movement at the same level.
People in this country fought and died to protect the Civil Rights of those that were having their rights denied. Massive protests. Civil unrest. National Guard being called out. Tanks rolling through the streets. The people of this country were willing to go to those lengths and risk life and limb to protect and secure those Civil Rights.
All that for and by a relatively small number of people (at that time). according to this graphic:
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets ... ry-top.jpg
the number of people owning guns in this country is 20%. the number of african americans in the us around the time of the civil rights movement was about 10%.
Do our elected officials believe that 20% will resist their rights being denied any less than the 10% so rightfully did decades ago? I already see news stories illustrating this point. County sheriffs declaring that they will defend the constitution rather than enforce a law that is at odds with the constitution. The people of New York are already voicing their disapproval with the outrageous ban that was recently so hastily enacted as to even apply to the state's law enforcement. There are a growing number who are saying that they will begin acts of Civil Disobedience should the state authorities attempt to enforce that particular law. The police union of that state has voiced its concern in opposition. the medical professionals have voiced their concern in opposition. Even such Liberal personalities as George Soros have come out in opposition to such a ban.
This issue isn't about Black or White. it isn't about Democrat or Republican. It isn't about North or South or East or West. This issue is about adhering to the document that founded this nation. That document holds this country together and holds it up as a model for the world.
This country hasn't always stayed on the path that the Constitution outlines, but it has always worked hard to bet back to it. This country, as originated, deserves the fullest efforts of every citizen and of every description to protect and defend the constitution. That means to preserve it by its original wording and with its original intent. It is a grave disservice to this nation to attack the constitution by means of word-play and by convoluted interpretations.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
That is the only context within which the constitution of the United States of America should be interpreted. We the People need our elected officials to stop trying to do things because they can based upon some string of judicial rulings, and to return to doing what the Constitution says that they can do, because if the Constitution does not specifically confer some power upon our President, or upon our Congress, or upon our States, then that power is explicitly reserved for the People.
In light of what our Constitution says. In light of recent reactions by the People, and in light of examples in our country's past of reactions to similar denial of rights, I believe that attempting to enact what some believe to be "reasonable restrictions" upon the constitutional rights of the People would extremely divisive, inflammatory and foolish. Enshrining such legislation as law would be to invite a second Civil Rights movement, the likes of which this nation should never be forced to endure.
The elected officials of this country are in office to serve the people. they are also to protect and defend the constitution of the United States. That constitution does not provide rights or create rights, it protects rights that already existed before the constitution was even written.
Our country has seen its share of upheaval and unrest. Revolution, Civil war, yes I'll even include Civil Rights movement at the same level.
People in this country fought and died to protect the Civil Rights of those that were having their rights denied. Massive protests. Civil unrest. National Guard being called out. Tanks rolling through the streets. The people of this country were willing to go to those lengths and risk life and limb to protect and secure those Civil Rights.
All that for and by a relatively small number of people (at that time). according to this graphic:
http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/dam/assets ... ry-top.jpg
the number of people owning guns in this country is 20%. the number of african americans in the us around the time of the civil rights movement was about 10%.
Do our elected officials believe that 20% will resist their rights being denied any less than the 10% so rightfully did decades ago? I already see news stories illustrating this point. County sheriffs declaring that they will defend the constitution rather than enforce a law that is at odds with the constitution. The people of New York are already voicing their disapproval with the outrageous ban that was recently so hastily enacted as to even apply to the state's law enforcement. There are a growing number who are saying that they will begin acts of Civil Disobedience should the state authorities attempt to enforce that particular law. The police union of that state has voiced its concern in opposition. the medical professionals have voiced their concern in opposition. Even such Liberal personalities as George Soros have come out in opposition to such a ban.
This issue isn't about Black or White. it isn't about Democrat or Republican. It isn't about North or South or East or West. This issue is about adhering to the document that founded this nation. That document holds this country together and holds it up as a model for the world.
This country hasn't always stayed on the path that the Constitution outlines, but it has always worked hard to bet back to it. This country, as originated, deserves the fullest efforts of every citizen and of every description to protect and defend the constitution. That means to preserve it by its original wording and with its original intent. It is a grave disservice to this nation to attack the constitution by means of word-play and by convoluted interpretations.
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
That is the only context within which the constitution of the United States of America should be interpreted. We the People need our elected officials to stop trying to do things because they can based upon some string of judicial rulings, and to return to doing what the Constitution says that they can do, because if the Constitution does not specifically confer some power upon our President, or upon our Congress, or upon our States, then that power is explicitly reserved for the People.
In light of what our Constitution says. In light of recent reactions by the People, and in light of examples in our country's past of reactions to similar denial of rights, I believe that attempting to enact what some believe to be "reasonable restrictions" upon the constitutional rights of the People would extremely divisive, inflammatory and foolish. Enshrining such legislation as law would be to invite a second Civil Rights movement, the likes of which this nation should never be forced to endure.
