January 21, 2010

Chicago Argues to Void 14th Ammendment To Protect Weapons Ban

Elizabeth Wydra via Balkinization:

he question of whether and to what extent state and local gun regulations are constitutionally permissible is a question of the highest importance for both gun control advocates and gun rights supporters—and one that is about to be decided by the Supreme Court. In McDonald v. Chicago, the city of Chicago is defending its gun control measures against a challenge by petitioners who argue that the city’s handgun ban violates their right to keep and bear arms—a right, these petitioners argue, that is protected against state and local government infringement by the Constitution’s 14th Amendment. However one feels about guns, anyone who cares about fundamental rights protection should be wary of the argument the city makes in its brief.

In the city’s attempt to preserve its weapons ban, it proves too much, essentially urging the Supreme Court to find that protection of the Bill of Rights and other fundamental liberties against state infringement has no basis in constitutional text or history, and is instead achieved solely by judicial implication. To make matters worse, Chicago’s brief makes common cause with precedent that has been properly labeled by civil rights leaders as “among the most misdirected in the history of the Court”

My argument is more common sense. Sure gangs cause trouble, guns are a part of that trouble. These laws were intended to "stop gang violence" and keep guns, "out of the hands of criminals". Er uh hows that working out?

I was in a hospital one day...waiting (what else do you do there).... in a large metro area close to me. The news came on where some people had walked up to a lady at a stop light, drug her out of her car and took it. Oh and they shot her in the head for no reason. They had the car, why kill her?

My response was that criminals would not do this if about half the time as soon as they walked up to the car the driver blew their brains right back on their buddies. It might take a few times, but eventually they will learn...

The reaction of the folks there was WTF did this guy come from. Well I come from where you know better than to try and carjack someone cause out in Bumfuct you might just get shot.

Their reaction is quite understandable. They deal and see gun violence all the time and it is horrific. But they tend to blame the tool rather than the person wielding it and their hate of the tool has led them to disarm and make themselves easy targets.

True, being armed does not mean you won't become a victim. The chance is still high that a criminal will use the element of surprise.

But disarming yourself leaves you no chance at all, and the bad guys with the freedom to select their victim with no fear of immediate and lethal consequences to themselves.

Hat Tip: Instapundit.

Bonus vid from Jen.

And yeah I'm not really into country, but damn that chick is teh hot!