So, after hearing Obama's speech today, I had a discussion with a peer. This person agrees 100% with everything Obama said. Yes to background, yes to Assault Weapons Ban, yes to High-Cap Mag bans.... the words.
Fine. Let's break this down. The 2nd Amendment says that I have the right to keep and bear arms, and that this shall not be infringed.
The 1st Amendment guarantees my right to speech, press, religion, etc. It doesn't exclude Catholics, Protestants, Jews, prevent me from bashing Obama in public, or regulate our media. Why is my 2nd Amendment being restricted?
Obama calls the restrictions he brought forth today common sense, the elitist pig. Common sense, as if I, a gun owner, have none. As if my ownership of high-capacity magazines is completely unfounded, ignorant, and useless. Excuse me, Mr. Obama, for not having sense enough to decide what I should or should not have. I did not know that you were qualified to make these decisions for me, but according to your speech you are.
Common sense would dictate that Westboro Baptist Church be burned to the ground. Common sense would dictate that these jerks should not be allowed to picket military funerals, or the funerals of the victims of Sandy Hook. The forefathers did not account for this, probably because they did not want some future president to be the person who establishes the definition of common sense. Westobor Baptists continue to do what they do, and we all hate it. But, they are protected by the 1st Amendment.
Common sense would dictate that the press actually verify facts before disseminating it throughout the United States. Common sense would dictate that the media keeps certain confidential information--such as the names & addresses of legal gun owners in New York-- out of the papers.
Do I need to go into Speech?
But Obama says that common sense dictates that assault rifles and high-cap magazines are dangerous and unnecessary.
I guess what I want to know is why Obama, or anyone who supports these policies, can be so presumptuous? The Constitution definitely does not. The Constitution simply says I have the right to keep and bear arms, and it shall not be infringed.
If Obama, or anyone else whats to limit my 2nd Amendment, they need to do it the right way. Go through Congress. Recommend an amendment to the Constitution. We did it with slavery, abortion, and a number of other matters, and it was done right. It had bipartisan support, went through the right channels, and was approved fairly. Shouldn't the 2nd Amendment be treated the same way? How can something guaranteed to me so long ago be stripped away by the actions of one man? It would be no different than Obama going on the TV today and saying, "Let's take some common sense regulation to the 1st Amendment. I'm not trying to take away your freedom of religion, but Westboro Baptist Church has to go--lest our Children hear their hateful message and be led astray by ignorance."