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originally posted by: Kryties
I have read opinions from other learned people that the 2nd can be read many different ways...
I honestly think that the Second Amendment has to be looked at again, thoroughly, and altered/amended to reflect such changes to society, just as Amendments and such have been altered before when the need arose.
Two years ago, President Barack Obama ordered the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to produce research on gun violence. Congress has now prohibited such research.
Get that? The NRA/GOP has made it illegal to even gather information about gun deaths..let alone discuss it.
originally posted by: butcherguy
a reply to: Kryties
Knock on wood, right?
There are instances where cops have seemingly lost their marbles and went berserk and murdered people. These are guys that are under the watchful eyes of supervisors that are trained to notice if their heavily armed subordinates are having mental problems... still, cops are more apt to kill themselves than the normal population.
originally posted by: Technetium82
There really is no point in having this discussion at all, because the American people do not care about gun laws, we all know this. These discussions happen time and time again after every mass shooting and they do not care that these things happen aslong as its not happening directly to them.
The funny thing is, they defend their right to keep and bear arms codified in the Second Amendment, that is the main response to this each and every time, yet this is a country that allows their government to illegally spy on them every day and when someone speaks out and confirms it they do nothing about it, this is a country that allows their government to commit false flag operations time and time again on its own people and do nothing about it, this is a country that allows the racial discrimination of its people by the police and does nothing about it. Yet they always defend their rights to bear arms incase some serious sh*t goes down . You couldn't make this up, you really couldn't, the amount of things going on in that third world country, and that's what it is, and they do absolutely nothing with their guns yet they keep using this tired old excuse regarding gun laws.
Nothing will change because they are too stupid to want anything to change. The woman in the video was correct, on this issue they are a 3rd world country, no respectable and sane country would allow its people to obtain guns as easily as they can in America. Its absolutely ridiculous. These shootings will keep happening, maybe even increase because anyone can get hold of a gun. They don't realise restricting guns will reduce shootings like it has in EVERY single country that has stricter laws in place. The ridiculous excuse of "well the bad guys can still get guns if they want, so we need them" is utterly ludicrous. Bad people will always find a way of getting a gun like they can in any other country but the rest of the people in these other countries don't feel the need to own a gun INCASE this happens. How they cannot see that anyone able to obtain a gun is going to mean more shootings says everything you need to know about how stupid they are.
Nobody should care anymore because Americans clearly don't care at all. Let them wipe each other out.
originally posted by: Kryties
originally posted by: Shamrock6
I've never committed a mass shooting.
What does taking my guns or restricting my right to purchase them or throwing up extra roadblocks to ownership on me do to address mass shootings?
It helps prevent others from doing so, as is evidenced in other countries that have successful gun RESTRICTIONS.
But I am glad you felt the need to remind us that you have never performed a mass shooting, I feel so much safer now.
originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus
originally posted by: Kryties
I have read opinions from other learned people that the 2nd can be read many different ways...
Cite them. I have a feeling they will not be as 'learned' as you suspect.
In spite of extensive recent discussion and much legislative action with respect to regulation of the purchase, possession, and transportation of firearms, as well as proposals to substantially curtail ownership of firearms, there is no definitive resolution by the courts of just what right the Second Amendment protects. The opposing theories, perhaps oversimplified, are an “individual rights” thesis whereby individuals are protected in ownership, possession, and transportation, and a “states’ rights” thesis whereby it is said the purpose of the clause is to protect the States in their authority to maintain formal, organized militia units.1 Whatever the Amendment may mean, it is a bar only to federal action, not extending to state2 or private3 restraints. The Supreme Court has given effect to the dependent clause of the Amendment in the only case in which it has tested a congressional enactment against the constitutional prohibition, seeming to affirm individual protection but only in the context of the maintenance of a militia or other such public force.
In United States v. Miller,4 the Court sustained a statute requiring registration under the National Firearms Act of sawed–off-shotguns. After reciting the original provisions of the Constitution dealing with the militia, the Court observed that “[w]ith obvious purpose to assure the continuation and render possible the effectiveness of such forces the declaration and guarantee of the Second Amendment were made. It must be interpreted with that end in view.”5 The significance of the militia, the Court continued, was that it was composed of “civilians primarily, soldiers on occasion.” It was upon this force that the States could rely for defense and securing of the laws, on a force that “comprised all males physically capable of acting in concert for the common defense,” who, “when called for service . . . were expected to appear bearing arms supplied by themselves and of the kind in common use at the time.”6 Therefore, “In the absence of any evidence tending to show that possession or use of a ‘shotgun having a barrel of less than 18 inches in length’ at this time has some reasonable relationship to the preservation or efficiency of a well– regulated militia, we cannot say that the Second Amendment guarantees the right to keep and bear such an instrument. Certainly it is not within judicial notice that this weapon is any part of the ordinary military equipment or that its use could contribute to the common defense.”7
Since this decision, Congress has placed greater limitations on the receipt, possession, and transportation of firearms,8 and proposals for national registration or prohibition of firearms altogether have been made.9 At what point regulation or prohibition of what classes of firearms would conflict with the Amendment, if at all, the Miller case does little more than cast a faint degree of illumination toward an answer.
It is quite clear the intent of the Second Amendment when one looks at the writings of the Founding Fathers when discussing this essential Right. They were as clear as an azure sky of deepest summer.
2012: 1.24
2011: 1.05
2010: 1.20
2009: 1.28
2008: 1.19
2007: 1.04
2006: 1.25
2005: 0.98
2004: 0.82
2003: 1.41
2002: 1.49
2001: 1.55
2000: 1.78
1999: 1.8
1998: 1.68
1997: 1.73
1996: 1.97
Certainly it is not within judicial notice that this weapon is any part of the ordinary military equipment or that its use could contribute to the common defense.
originally posted by: Shamrock6
It's funny how you tell others that they have nothing to contribute and no argument left because they've resorted to personal attacks and snarky comments, and then turn around and do the same yourself. The irony is thick.
So to POSSIBLY prevent somebody else, a ludicrously small percentage of the population, from doing something I need to be subjected to the same thing they are?
Ps - glad you feel better. I'm glad you're able to find comfort in the fact that tens of millions up on tens of millions of responsible gun owners will never shoot anything other than paper or food.
originally posted by: Subaeruginosa
a reply to: Vasa Croe
I missed your post where you provided a link to show that our homicide rates have gotten worse, maybe you can point me to it?
Because on gunpolicy.org it shows a clear decline after the 96 port Arthur massacre and there still lower than they where.
2012: 1.24
2011: 1.05
2010: 1.20
2009: 1.28
2008: 1.19
2007: 1.04
2006: 1.25
2005: 0.98
2004: 0.82
2003: 1.41
2002: 1.49
2001: 1.55
2000: 1.78
1999: 1.8
1998: 1.68
1997: 1.73
1996: 1.97
gunpolicy.org/Australia
Besides a lot of its just conditioning (or perception) I think. My dads friends who came from the states (they actually manage a hotel for him now) used to be hardcore for the right to own guns when they first got here, but after living in Australia for few years and witnessing how much safer it is, they're now actually totally against guns... Its an ironic change of mentality.
I remember when they first got here, there daughter was telling me how she would take the long way around an area she heard was dangerous when driving... I thought it was hilarious and tried explaining to her that rough area or not, this is Australia, you can drive anywhere you want without an issue... But she was convinced that a rough area means you can't even drive though it... The pure paranoia she possessed was both fascinating & just plain weird to me as an Australian.