Supreme Court Makes Guns a Non-IssueBTW, if you're having trouble hitting the blog, it's because traffic levels are staggering. Keep trying...
Today's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court striking down the District of Columbia's 32 year ban on handguns as incompatible with the 2nd amendment is not exactly a win for Republicans -- even though it went farther than even the Bush administration hoped.
By re-affirming that Americans have a right to own guns for self-defense and hunting, the court effectively takes the gun issue out of the fall campaign. Republicans will now have a very hard time arguing that if you elect Democrats they will take away your guns.
The first podcast material on DRTV should be up within the hour...
9 comments:
well, no. because there are still plenty of impediments on the road to disarmament. The Democrat hope for an assault weapon ban being one. NRA will let us know who to vote against.
I'd say this is one issue that gives momentum to the GOP. Obviously, there's going to be a lot of litigation to clarify and define the extent of an individual's Second Amendment rights. If the McCain campaign doesn't emphasize that it matters who appoints the federal judges who will decide those cases, the next round of litigation ought to be on the subject of political malpractice.
In 2004 the Republicans emphasized appointment of judges in their campaigns. In 2006 they ignored the issue. I don't need to tell you the difference in the results.
Trust me, the dopey Libs are not going to let this one alone. It will be a very active issue for Novemeber. Take a look at Mayor Daley foaming at the mouth over the decision...
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-supreme-court-gun-ban,0,3522044.story?track=rss
WE have to MAKE it an issue. We have won a victory in a huge battle. This is our Gettysburg. A turning point in an epic war for the very foundation of this country.
ANYONE who thinks we just won the war, is jumping the gun (pun only slightly intended). The enemy still has their resolve. If they can't take away our actual guns, they will try to flank us. Measures have already been introduced in some states to basically regulate us out of options.
Bullet microstamping, so called "smart" guns, licensing with loads of fees (in Illinois we are required to have Firearms Owners Identification (FOID) Cards with a $10 fee for 10 years), registrations with fees. All done with the idea of making it so expensive to shoot our firearms, that they are basically rendered as clubs.
These are the issues we need to be talking about through this election year and making sure we don't elect those that would use the back door methods to take away our guns.
Yeah, this decision will take the gun issue off the table... just like Brown v Board of Education ended racism as an issue once and for all...
There are a LOT of answered questions here: incorporation, level of scrutiny, what constitutes an infringement... plenty of fodder for a generation of additional suits. And, as is painfully clear, we are one vote from an opposite result... and Scalia is now the second most senior justice on the court and one of three likely to retire (or die) during the next 8 years - 8 years that could be Obama's two terms.
This issue is FAR from off the table for the election.
As Eugene Volokh himself put it, "your constitutional RKBA hangs by one vote" will be a likely McCain theme, "Also expect fundraising letters to likely
pro-gun contributors stressing this at length."
(Note The Volokh Conspiracy site is also having technical difficulties, no doubt for the same reason.)
I still think it's McCain's election to lose, although he's of course quite capable of that.
When Petey says the local and state fight is as dire as ever he is dead on. Check what out the following NY state laws that all passed the Asssembly in April. They are now at the Senate and it is controlled by 6 Republicans. Predictions are that in Nov. the Republicans lose control. Within the week we will see if they pass or not.
Assembly Bill 6525A, new sales and reporting requirements for licensed firearms dealers and require dealers to carry a minimum of $1,000,000 of liability insurance.
Assembly Bill 9819A, ban the sale of semi-automatic handguns not equipped with so-called "microstamping" technology.
Assembly Bill 7331, would expand the ban on semi-automatic “assault weapons”, as well as require the ballistic “fingerprinting”(registration) of all semi-automatic “assault weapons” owned prior to a specified date.
Assembly Bill 3451, would expand New York’s failed ballistic imaging program.
Assembly Bill 2772, would ban the sale, use or possession of any firearm with a bore diameter .50 caliber or larger.
Assembly Bill 829, would prohibit the sale of any handgun that doesn’t contain a childproofing device or mechanism incorporated into the design of the handgun.
Assembly Bill 76, would require the mandatory storage of all firearms.
Assembly Bill 3447, would ban the sale or possession of frangible ammunition.
Assembly Bill 9543, would require purchasers of antique firearms to undergo a background check.
I think it will still be an issue for two reasons; the first is Obama's recent flip-flop of his spoken position on the 2nd Amendment, and Second because a number of his supporters are going to want him to voice something about overturning this decision just like the anti-abortion folks want Roe v. Wade overturned and use it as a litmus test for a 'conservative' candidate.
It's not going to go away. It just won't be on the front burner.
All The Best,
Frank W. James
Now its all about the new SCOTUS judges that our next President will appoint--Justice Hillary in exchange for her support? dmd
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