The short answer is yes. An ominous headline on the National Rifle Association's Web site reads, "Bloomberg and others call for denial of gun rights based on ... the FBI's terror watch list.Even Bush2 thought that it might be Ok to think twice about selling guns to people on a terror watch list. But the NRA calls it "McCarthyism."
Friday, May 7, 2010
The NRA Is Defending Gun Rights for Suspected Terrorists
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Denial of rights because the government claims you might be guilty. Of what have these individuals been adjudicated guilty that they summarily lose those rights -- unalienable rights that our government ostensibly recognizes inherently belong to "all men?" First, Second, Fourth, Fifth, Ninth, take your pick. "Suspects" can't depend on the Bill of Rights or the rule of law? Aren't they who need them most? How many people are on that list? Over a million now, isn't it? Are they all guilty? Are YOU on a "watch list?" Can you even reliably know before you're detained? Have you ALREADY lost your rights at that point? Is this precedent really where we wanna go? Well, further, I mean...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.downsizedc.org/etp/campaigns/77
(No, I'm not an NRA member.)
If you're on a watch list, you can't board a plane without extra scrutiny.
ReplyDeleteBut you CAN buy a gun or explosives.
Does this make sense to you?
Guns for everyone, no questions asked! Riiiiight.
Printing presses for everyone, no questions asked! (The pen, as they say...)
ReplyDeleteYes, that's what the Constitution says (well, other than the "government controls private-business airlines" bit, of course). There's an amendment process built right in if you want to amend it. Until then, I prefer holding government to the (existing) rule of law.
You may not be punished -- your rights abrogated -- for crimes you haven't been proven to have committed. Without due process. Not in a FREE society, not under this government's charter. And certainly, one might hope, not with this government's record...
OK, I can go along with "they can't buy a gun without extra scrutiny." They are on the watch list for a reason and it makes sense to investigate before selling a gun. I find it amusing that the NRA and the ACLU might be aligned on this issue.
ReplyDelete(I am an NRA life member.)