Comments on: Lawyers, Guns And History

Legal Analyst Andrew Cohen On Recent News Over The Right To Bear Arms

[sanfelz]

In the year 2003 in the US, there were over 30,000 deaths by gun, almost 12,000 homicides by gun, none that I know of by militia.

Gun manufacturers make more guns than are legally purchased. Seems to be a disconnect between gun manufacturers and gun sellers and law and order.

[olgreyghost]

A thought on the analogy between cars and guns.

1. The right to operate a motor vehicle is not specifically enumerated within the Constitution as the right to keep and bear arms and licensing would be an infringement

2. One doesn't need a driver's license to OWN a motor vehicle

3. One doesn't need a driver's license to operate a motor vehicle on private property

4. A motor vehicle owned for the sole purpose of being operated only on private property does not have to be registered (no license plates on NASCAR vehicles)

5. If one wants to license the carry of firearms into portions of the public domain (in violation of the 2nd Amendment) then many States, including the Republic, already have this in place - it's called a "Concealed Handgun License" and they have to be honored by other States just like driver's licenses are now, even if the other States don't allow the same privileges for their own citizens.

Kind of backs everyone into a corner, don't it?

[olgreyghost]

USAwatchman:

I cannot give away what isn't mine to give. I concede San Francisco and New York City to the people who choose to live there and live the way they do because I respect their right to choose to live that way. I have a problem when they try to inflict their political theories about gun-control on the rest of the country.

The biggest whine coming out of New York City right now is that (they say) most guns being used in violent crimes in the city are being "imported" from outside the city, by New Yorkers no less. They want to punish people as far away as Georgia. I say build a fence like the federal government wants to do on the U.S./Mexico border.

Everybody wanting to enter New York should be strip-searched to make sure they are not bringing in any weapons, like in a prison. Then when no one has any weapons, violent crime will plummet, like in a prison. Some will view the wall as a sign of oppression but the government can explain it is for their own protection and life will be pleasant and peaceful, like in a prison...

[bluestardad]

We will all need any gun we can get our hands on soon if Bush and company have their ways.

[jrtoddskow2]

I/m 43 years old, have 3 kids and run a paper route out in the country between 1 and 6 am every moring, alot of crazy people do crazy things during these times especially during the holidays! I got a Conspiracy charge against me 24 yrs. ago when I was a teen hanging aroud with the wrong crowd, didn't hurt anyone, I was charged with a "Felony" now I can't possess a firearm or ever vote again in my life! I've been in no more trouble since then other than some traffic tickets, no dui's or dwi's. Until 11/21/06 at 1:30am going to pick up our newspapers I was pulled by a Deputy Sheriff of Pitt Co. NC for no reason other than my Ex-Business Partner calling him and telling him I had a pistol in my SUV,he done this becaquse I ended our partnership because he waqs just a plain CROOK. Icarried the pistol for protection during the paper route, never had to pull or use it ,now I'm facing a possible 8 yrs. behind bars! There is no right to bear arms and we do not have the right to defend ourselves in this so called "FREE" Country! Yes I made a mistake 24 yrs ago, "I'VE PAID MY DEBT TO SOCIETY". I've even called the Sheriffs Dept on my route over 12 times in the past 5 yrs. for people Drinking and driving, breaking and entering, and car accidents that also included Police Officers. Guess I'll have to wait 1-2 hrs out in the rural countryside for the cops or coroner if I get robbed!

[processor2]

Sure, Europe has strict gun control, and because of it, Europe has fallen to the likes of Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini.

Whereas, in Amercia, we have the 2nd amendment and the right to bear arms

And we have been free ever since.

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[creeper00]

From one tree-hugging, lizard-kissing liberal:

There is NO part of "The right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be abridged" which is even remotely ambiguous. Given the recent bloody origins of this country it's not surprising the states had militias in mind when they polished the Constitution with the Bill of Rights. While Congress may cite reasons for any law it chooses to make (in this case the reference to a militia) the directive, not the reason, is the law. If this law is going to be changed, it must be changed by amendment, not reinterpretation.

My husband can remember taking his rifle to school and storing it in his locker during the day so that he could go hunting after school. There were no mass killings in schools then. Perhaps we need to take a long hard look at the society we have created, rather than the inanimate objects we have filled it with.

[processor2]

Sure, Europe has strict gun control, and because of it, Europe has fallen to the likes of Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini.

Whereas, in Amercia, we have the 2nd amendment and the right to bear arms

And we have been free ever since.

[jmagarotz]

If I may be so bold as to ad a PS to my earlier comments.
To CBS: Since you are so insistent upon the destruction of the Second Amendment, what, pray tell do you think will happen to your precious "Freedom of the Press" if Article II falls?
I've got a hint for you, It ain't gonna be pretty!

[ryindy]

"I mean, if Madison and his iconic gang couldn%u2019t get that job done why would anyone expect a lowly ole history professor to do so? " - Andrew Cohen

Nor could the public at large expect a lowly journalist / solicitor to get it right either.

I mean if elected officials can mis-interpret the 2nd Amendment right "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms," will the same ones mis-interpret a journalists right under the 1st Amendment "or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press;".

I mention this since CBS is actually a "News Service" and not actually "published press paper".

I mean we can play with words forever, can't we ?