I think this "policy statement" is utterly disingenuous. The ACLU knows full well that it simply isn't true. The Supreme Court has weighed in on the issue something like 90 times almost all either neutral or pro individual right.
Also, think about it. The bill of rights is ONLY about explicit protections for individuals. Governments have powers, only individuals have rights-- and the term "The People was never used otherwise. The framers felt that the right to keep and bear arms was so important that they put it right after freedom of speech, assembly, etc.
Read the letters of Madison, Jefferson, Adams, Washington, et. al. and see that the intent as an individual right is absolutely unambiguous.
In true constitutional legal circles, The "Collective" or "State-only" interpretation of the second amendment is generally discredited, other than by some radically anti-gun elements.
I think this "policy statement" is utterly disingenuous. The ACLU knows full well that it simply isn't true. The Supreme Court has weighed in on the issue something like 90 times almost all either neutral or pro individual right.
Also, think about it. The bill of rights is ONLY about explicit protections for individuals. Governments have powers, only individuals have rights. The framers felt that right to keep and bear arms was so important that they put it right after freedom of speech, assembly, etc.
Read the letters of Madison, Jefferson, Adams, Washington, et. al. and the intent as an individual right is absolutely unambiguous.
In true constitutional legal circles, The "Collective" or "State-only" interpretation of the second amendment is generally discredited, other than by some radically anti-gun elements.
Mr. Doomdark- You seem to know almost nothing about firearms, their ownership or use. The rate of crimes committed by permit holders and other legitimate purchasers of guns is close to zero. You insult us all by implying that:
1) Self-defense is not a fundemental biological right that goes back to the first one-celled protozoan. (Self-defense uses of firearms outnumber criminal uses by a factor of between two to one and five to one, depending on the study.)
2) That people are too stupid to run their own lives safely (particularly those who have gone through the extensive training/checking necessary to get a handgun permit
3) That legitimate gun ownership is somehow responsible for a large number of crimes or accidents. In fact, the strongly anti-gun Centers for Disease Control just finished a review of 51 gun control studies and could find NO EVIDENCE that ANY gun control law has reduced crime. This makes sense because virually all gun control laws are aimed at legitimate users. Gun ownership is at an all time high and gun crimes/accidents are at a historic low, and clearly not because of gun control laws.
Mr. Doomdark- Go to the Bureau of Justice Statistics and learn the site. The facts simply do not support your position. Better yet, find some gun folks, go to the range with them and learn someting about firearms. I GUARANTEE that that will change your mind more that anything else...
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I think this "policy statement" is utterly disingenuous. The ACLU knows full well that it simply isn't true. The Supreme Court has weighed in on the issue something like 90 times almost all either neutral or pro individual right.
Also, think about it. The bill of rights is ONLY about explicit protections for individuals. Governments have powers, only individuals have rights-- and the term "The People was never used otherwise. The framers felt that the right to keep and bear arms was so important that they put it right after freedom of speech, assembly, etc.
Read the letters of Madison, Jefferson, Adams, Washington, et. al. and see that the intent as an individual right is absolutely unambiguous.
In true constitutional legal circles, The "Collective" or "State-only" interpretation of the second amendment is generally discredited, other than by some radically anti-gun elements.
I think this "policy statement" is utterly disingenuous. The ACLU knows full well that it simply isn't true. The Supreme Court has weighed in on the issue something like 90 times almost all either neutral or pro individual right.
Also, think about it. The bill of rights is ONLY about explicit protections for individuals. Governments have powers, only individuals have rights. The framers felt that right to keep and bear arms was so important that they put it right after freedom of speech, assembly, etc.
Read the letters of Madison, Jefferson, Adams, Washington, et. al. and the intent as an individual right is absolutely unambiguous.
In true constitutional legal circles, The "Collective" or "State-only" interpretation of the second amendment is generally discredited, other than by some radically anti-gun elements.
Mr. Doomdark- You seem to know almost nothing about firearms, their ownership or use. The rate of crimes committed by permit holders and other legitimate purchasers of guns is close to zero. You insult us all by implying that:
1) Self-defense is not a fundemental biological right that goes back to the first one-celled protozoan. (Self-defense uses of firearms outnumber criminal uses by a factor of between two to one and five to one, depending on the study.)
2) That people are too stupid to run their own lives safely (particularly those who have gone through the extensive training/checking necessary to get a handgun permit
3) That legitimate gun ownership is somehow responsible for a large number of crimes or accidents. In fact, the strongly anti-gun Centers for Disease Control just finished a review of 51 gun control studies and could find NO EVIDENCE that ANY gun control law has reduced crime. This makes sense because virually all gun control laws are aimed at legitimate users. Gun ownership is at an all time high and gun crimes/accidents are at a historic low, and clearly not because of gun control laws.
Mr. Doomdark- Go to the Bureau of Justice Statistics and learn the site. The facts simply do not support your position. Better yet, find some gun folks, go to the range with them and learn someting about firearms. I GUARANTEE that that will change your mind more that anything else...
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