Let Freedom Ring
Clinging to my guns out of bitterness, eh? The only way they'd get mine is by prying it from my cold, dead fingers. A viewpoint shared by many of my fellow red-blooded Americans here in the Real West, in the Real America some Chablis sipping arugula eaters have chosen to disregard.
I don't agree with several of the man's ideas, but we must always remain vigilant in defense of our freedoms--
Today’s decision is a landmark victory for Second Amendment freedom in the United States. For this first time in the history of our Republic, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms was and is an individual right as intended by our Founding Fathers. I applaud this decision as well as the overturning of the District of Columbia’s ban on handguns and limitations on the ability to use firearms for self-defense.“Unlike Senator Obama, who refused to join me in signing a bipartisan amicus brief, I was pleased to express my support and call for the ruling issued today. Today’s ruling in District of Columbia v. Heller makes clear that other municipalities like Chicago that have banned handguns have infringed on the constitutional rights of Americans. Unlike the elitist view that believes Americans cling to guns out of bitterness, today’s ruling recognizes that gun ownership is a fundamental right — sacred, just as the right to free speech and assembly.
This ruling does not mark the end of our struggle against those who seek to limit the rights of law-abiding citizens. We must always remain vigilant in defense of our freedoms. But today, the Supreme Court ended forever the specious argument that the Second Amendment did not confer an individual right to keep and bear arms.
Comments
I used to enjoy going down the gun range to shoot a few targets before the UK government banned it. They'll be banning kitchen knives and cricket bats next.
Posted by: Nor'dzin | June 26, 2008 4:59 PM
I learnt to shoot in the military cadet corps. Target practice was always rather fun.
An interesting thing (looking from outside anyway) is the choice of these judges to interpret the constitution "as the founding fathers meant it" rather than "as a living document" (whatever that may be interpreted as meaning). Given that the domestic situation has changed appreciably for the better (there are no longer wars on home territory with Mexico and the Native peoples), the inference is that this essentially fundamentalist approach has been taken because people are fearful of the future and unsure of the ability of government to manage problems. Two very reasonable fears too, with crime, drug abuse, high fuel prices, etc on one hand and government in the pockets of corporations on the other. I wonder to what degree this is also a response to a troubled world situation, where external threats and animosity translate subconsciously to an understandable parallel inner desire to defend one's family and property from a perception of enemies all around?
It's a pity that the word "fundamentalist" has such bad connotations nowadays. I would like to see more fundamentalism: people standing for integrity, honesty, hard work, common sense, charity, and respect for others who embody these values. This is an area where I am sure that you Kimberly, Nor'dzin and I have a great deal of common ground, respectively as Gnostic, Buddhist and Christian. Plus loving horses, of course.
Posted by: Transylvanianhorseman | June 27, 2008 1:04 PM
Thanks for your nice comments, Nor'dzin and Julian. I hope that I never have to use a firearm to defend myself or my family. My neighbor recently came home at 10:30 in the morning to find her property invaded by three illegals who were ransacking the place. She's a feisty little woman, who was enraged at the intrusion, and ran the men off by sheer force of her yelling and screaming at them. She's lucky they didn't hurt her. She just got herself a firearm and some shooting lessons.
Too bad that's the way things are.
I'll trust the wisdom of the U.S. founding fathers any day over our politicians. And I put my trust in that brand of fundamentalism you so aptly describe, Julian. ;-)
Pax. Kimberly
Posted by: I Gallop On | June 27, 2008 5:56 PM