Category Archives: Second Amendment

Opinion

USA -(AmmoLand.com)- In an amazing twist that was somehow completely overlooked by most of the nations media, Dan Gross, who served for 6 years as president of the gun control advocacy group, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, joined thousands of Second Amendment supporters at a rally on the West Lawn of the nations capital in Washington DC.

Not only did Gross express support for Second Amendment rights and respect for gun owners, but he also criticized gun control groups for intentionally and dogmatically demonizing guns and gun owners, while focusing on restricting guns instead of saving lives.

In the past, there have occasionally been lobbyists and politicians who abandoned pro-rights groups or positions to express support for some form of gun control, and those defectors typically received significant media attention for their actions.

Gross remarks are available on multiple YouTube channels and were covered in the conservative and gun press, including here on AmmoLand News, so its not hard for anyone interested to see exactly what he said.

As a member of the 2nd Amendment Rally Organizing Committee, I interviewed Gross before we agreed to invite him to the rally. I found him to be sincere in his commitment to the right to arms, if not quite as devoted to the full extent of the protections the amendment provides. At least hes open to discussion and learning.

Theres a possibility that Gross came out in support of the Second Amendment as a publicity stunt, looking for exposure and support for his new effort that focuses more on the responsibilities involved in gun ownership than on additional government regulations, and Im okay with that. Gun ownership carries significant responsibilities, and as long as those pushing the message of responsible firearm ownership arent advocating for government intervention into the lives of gun owners, I welcome them to the discussion. I might not agree with everything that Gross decides to promote, just as I dont always agree with the actions and positions of established gun rights groups, but iron sharpens iron. Discussions, even arguments, over philosophy and the best approach to the right to arms are a useful and productive process, unlike shouting and foot-stomping.

We gathered over 2000 rights advocates on the Capitol lawn on very short notice, and without funding or active support from any of the major advocacy organizations. We brought together some 30 speakers representing a wide array of perspectives and approaches, all fiercely advocating against the creeping encroachment of government regulation on our fundamental right to arms. We were respectful, cheerful, and more diverse in terms of race, outlook, and lifestyle than the dominant media would ever admit.

We used technology to send our message far beyond the couple of thousand in direct attendance to thousands more virtual participants watching the live stream, and still, more who have and continue to watch the archive footage online, making this one of the most widely seen Second Amendment events ever held.

The core theme of the rally was the message that You Are the Gun Lobby. It is and must remain the core message of the pro-rights movement. You cant rely on some group any group to protect your rights, and just sending a few dollars now and then does not get the job done. You must take direct action in the form of calls and letters to elected officials, and involvement in getting the right people elected. Its also critical that you engage with friends and family, with clear facts and by demonstrating a strong example of responsible gun ownership.

Efforts to spread the truth about gun owners and gun ownership into non-traditional communities women, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, LGBTQ folks, and people of every political and religious persuasion depend on you. We need everyone to know that the Second Amendment protects THEIR rights, just as it protects our rights. The Second Amendment is for everyone, and we need everyone we come in contact with to feel welcome and appreciated as a fellow rights supporter. The right to arms must transcend our differences and bind us together under a single banner and common cause.

Dont let other differences and disagreements get in the way of what really matters. The right to arms is universal. Christians and Jews and Muslims and Sikhs and Hindus and Buddhists and atheists and everyone else, have the right to defend themselves and their families from criminals and from oppressors. We dont have to agree on the path to Heaven or road to enlightenment, but we can all agree that life is precious and worth defending.

Sure, its hard to understand how someone could be a supporter of the Second Amendment and also be a supporter of Beto ORourke, but they undoubtedly exist. The trick is to focus on the former rather than the latter. Embrace the agreement rather than focusing on the difference, and you might have a chance of changing their mind about their choice in presidential candidates. If instead, you focus on the difference, you not only have virtually no chance of influencing that choice, you run a very high probability of pushing that person away from support for rights, by making them feel unwelcome. Thats not how we win in the long run. For more insights into this sort of thing, check out the new podcast from my liberal friend Sarah Cade and Jon Hauptman. I think this is going to be a very useful series.

The Second Amendment belongs to everyone, and we must let everyone know that because we need everyone supporting it if we ever hope to secure our rights.

It wasnt that long ago that some of the most dedicated defenders of the Second Amendment in Congress were Democrats, and gun rights legislation could pass with bipartisan support. Thats not the case today, but could be true again at some point in the future, but not if we push away Democrat gun owners.

Thats why I welcome Dan Gross into our fraternity. He cant hurt us, and he could potentially help us immensely. He can help us to understand our opponents better, and thats always useful. The most important thing though, is that we can only win this fight by increasing our numbers. Rejecting and offending people who could be our allies is just foolish and self-defeating.

You Are the Gun Lobby. Your activism, your example, and your influence are what will make the difference between winning this fight, or sliding down the slippery slope of never-ending, incremental gun control.

The 2nd Amendment Rally Organizing Committee has disbanded, and all of our records are being deleted, as we promised they would be, but a new committee is already forming to hold another rally next year. Start planning now to be part of its success, but more importantly, start acting now to own the title of the Gun Lobby, and lead the way into a brighter future.

About Jeff Knox:

Jeff Knox is a second-generation political activist and director of The Firearms Coalition. His father Neal Knox led many of the early gun rights battles for your right to keep and bear arms. Read Neal Knox The Gun Rights War.

The Firearms Coalition is a loose-knit coalition of individual Second Amendment activists, clubs and civil rights organizations. Founded by Neal Knox in 1984, the organization provides support to grassroots activists in the form of education, analysis of current issues, and with a historical perspective of the gun rights movement. The Firearms Coalition has offices in Buckeye, Arizona and Manassas, VA. Visit: http://www.FirearmsCoalition.org.

Read more:
Former Brady Campaign President Dan Gross, Stands with Second Amendment Supporters - AmmoLand Shooting Sports News

Opinion

USA -(AmmoLand.com)- Communities around the nation are standing up to the narrative that gun control is the will of the people. Over 230 counties, towns, and cities have passed what is known as Second Amendment Sanctuary Ordinances, or SASOs.

These ordinances tell their state and federal government that the county does not support gun control and that it will not be enforced even if it becomes law.

Just in the past month, counties in Virginia, Wisconsin, Florida, Tennessee, and Arizona have enacted versions of SASOs, bringing the number of states that have them up to 19.

However, while these ordinances are passed for the right reasons, they could be better.

Many of the ordinances that have been passed simply declare the county as a Second Amendment Sanctuary, but do not usually offer any way to enforce the ordinance.

In other words, these SASOs dont have any teeth, or ways to hold those who break the ordinance accountable.

That is where our SASO is different.

Gun Owners of America has created a SASO template that can be adopted by any community, county, city, or town.

This minor addition makes your SASO much more meaningful and turns it into something impactful, rather than just a simple resolution.

Please click here to learn more about our Second Amendment Sanctuary Ordinance and to download a copy for yourself.

Whether you are a county commissioner, on the city council or just a private citizen who wants to see our resolution passed in your community please take a copy to tell people about it.

Click here to let us know if your locality has taken up our SASO.

We are in this fight together.

In liberty,

Matthew PattersonDirector of State and Local AffairsGun Owners of America

P.S. Please take our SASO to your commission or council and make your community a Second Amendment sanctuary. And if youve let your membership lapse, make sure to renew your membership in Gun Owners of America today for only $20!

Read the original here:
19 States Now Have Counties with Second Amendment Sanctuaries in Place - AmmoLand Shooting Sports News

City driving behaviors awful

A street near where I live has had a number of complaints from residents about speeding vehicles, most of which continue through to other streets in the area. The city Traffic Engineering Department is now working the issue and is likely to install calming features that narrow the road to slow traffic.

I asked for and received speed data for the street in question. The speed limit is 25 mph. Over a two day period in one lane, only 1.48% of vehicles drove at a speed below the 25 mph limit. Over 61% drove at 35 mph or higher; 33.7% were doing 40 mph or higher. Out of 1,416 vehicles, 121 were clocked at 50 mph or higher; thats two times the limit. Thirty-seven vehicles traveled at 65 mph or higher.

Nobody in his right mind should condone these kinds of driving habits. However, one has to wonder if these same bad behaviors dont also exist on the other streets in our neighborhood that are traveled by the same drivers. Narrowing one street will not likely change driver behaviors on others. To really solve the problem using the tools available to the city would mean narrowing multiple streets, not just the one that is under scrutiny. This doesnt seem practical.

I have long opposed photo enforcement. Im not fond of the thought of being under surveillance wherever I go, and Im not fond of the possibility of being ticketed two weeks after the fact by a machine that cant immediately field questions or points in my defense.

I have now changed my mind. Our driving behaviors are awful; the city cant reasonably make physical changes to every street to slow people down; and the police cannot have an enforcement presence on many streets while also chasing bad guys and clearing accidents.

I realize this is not popular, but it is time for us to bite the bullet and agree to the use of portable photo speed enforcement tools. Such devices can reliably rein in extreme speeders with relative ease and at low cost. To be clear, Im not advocating rigid enforcement of the limit; many well-intending drivers will sometimes find themselves a little bit over the limit before correcting the problem. But, I am saying that we should not tolerate people who do over 40 or 50 mph in a 25 mph zone, and that photo speed enforcement can, and would, solve that problem.

Charles Rollman

Colorado Springs

The Monday Gazette Sports section article by Brent Briggeman briefly recognized the Air Force offensive line. Those down linemen are the reason that Air Force running backs are breaking records this year, but they are never recognized during the game. Why cant announcers say lead block by Ferguson or key blocks by Hattock and Vikupitz just like they announce the runner or receivers names? It might take an extra spotter in the booth, especially with the Falcons complicated blocking schemes, but it would be nice to recognize the guys who are winning the games in the fourth quarter.

Rip Blaisdell

Teller County

Thank you for the article in the Nov. 20 edition of the Gazette: Warm ocean water delays sea ice for Alaska towns and wildlife. The dangers of the climate crisis need to be emphasized by our tireless free press to counteract the constant climate denials of the Trump administration.

(I am a subscriber, but I read it online. Thanks for that, too.)

Susan Permut

Monument

In watching the congressional investigation into possible illegal activities by the present occupant of the White House, the meeting notes between President Donlad Trump and Vladimir Putin in Helsinki were mentioned. If memory serves me, I believe that President Trump took those notes from the meeting secretary with him as he left the meeting with Putin. Have those been published? It would be interesting to know the contents of said notes, dont you think? It might help in clarifying present matters.

Bob Armintor

Colorado Springs

At this time there are nearly a dozen countries protesting their government. Many of these protesters are being shot and killed fighting government soldiers and police. These people only have rocks and wooden clubs to fight with.

What is the common denominator of these countries? The citizens of these countries have no guns to confront a corrupt government. The other common denominator is that these citizens only other alternative is to leave their homeland. This is very evident in the droves of people leaving the Middle East and trying to get into any eastern European country.

The same situation exists at our southern border. These illegal immigrants are lured here and groomed by Democratic politicians. (The Democrats cannot win an election without the illegal votes). Case in point is the 3 million illegal votes from California in the last presidential election. The dream of these Democratic politicians is to disarm American gun owners.

Then they can throw the Constitution in file 13. After that they can make and change laws at their own discretion. These poor people coming across our southern border have no idea that they would be voting for a government just like they one they left.

Be aware that no country in the world would be foolish enough to plan a land invasion of our country with 170 million gun owners.

As a Japanese general once said after Pearl Harbor and the U.S. declaring war. We have made a very bad mistake; The Americans have an armed citizen behind every tree.

The Second Amendment was not designed for personal protection even though that is an added benefit. It was to keep out government under control. (A lesson learned by our forefathers fighting an oppressive British government).

Max Tallent

Colorado Springs

See the original post here:
LETTERS: City driving habits are awful; impact of the Second Amendment - Colorado Springs Gazette

Garwood, N.J.: Dear Snarky Voice of the People Editor: I take exception to your obnoxious labeling of Voicer Skip Triviginos letter This is a stick up as if it is amusing that we readers are now being presented a lesser Daily News. Even if a lesser News is still light years ahead of that rag across town that Sauron, er, Rupert Murdoch, publishes, Skip rightly cited the ever-shrinking comics section, the letting go of sportswriters, rising price of your paper and the last straw, the axing of the Mutts comic strip. Mutts, featuring Mooch the cat and Earl the dog is quite simply one of the best comic strips of all time. Period. Thats not my opinion, rather its the opinion of the greatest cartoonist of all time, Charles Schulz. And that aint chopped liver. Mooch and Earl have far more heart and insight into the human condition then the person who axed them out of just plain bloody mindedness and lack of a sense of humor. Come on, Daily News, your readers have spoken and we want our Mutts back. As Sonny Liston said after his last fight: I think its time to sit down and reevaluate our philosophy. Mike Gordeuk

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Readers sound off on ad hominem attacks, the Second Amendment, and Mutts (again) - New York Daily News

FLORENCE COUNTY, Wisc. (WLUC) - Florence County is the first county in Wisconsin to become a Second Amendment Sanctuary County. The Florence County Board of Supervisors passed their resolution Tuesday night.

Florence County has made history.

"We are the first county in Wisconsin to be a second Amendment Sanctuary County which I think is huge, said Mark Kerznar, a Florence County Citizen.

This is push-back to the red-flag legislation supported by the governor and several lawmakers. The red flag law gives power to the sheriff to confiscate a person's weapons if they're deemed dangerous.

By being a Second Amendment Sanctuary County, the citizens would follow the laws that are deemed constitutional, given and set by the county.

"You can tell tonight we had a full county board room, which usually is not the case, so there is a lot of support here, said Florence County Sheriff, Dan Miller.

The resolution, which has a number of reasons why Florence County decided to become a Second Amendment Sanctuary County, was passed by the board unanimously.

Florence County's Board Chair, Jeanette Bomberg said she has heard no opposition to the resolution from members of Florence County.

"What this means is we listen to our residents and we feel very strongly in the right to bear arms, the Second Amendment, she said.

This resolution will now be sent to the state capitol."This is what we should do is send a message to Madison, and it's going to be out to the other counties in the state of Wisconsin and you know they can do the same thing if they want, said Sheriff Miller.

The full resolution is in the related documents section.

Continue reading here:
Florence County becomes first Second Amendment Sanctuary County in Wisconsin - UpperMichigansSource.com

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) The self-proclaimed Second Amendment auditor arrested for allegedly bringing an AR-style rifle into a metro restaurant has bonded out of jail.

Timothy Harper

Timothy Harper bonded out of the Oklahoma County Jail at 7:43 p.m. on Friday, according to a jail official.

Harpers jail exit came hours after Oklahoma County Judge Ray Elliott refused to lower Harpers $100,000 bond. However, the judge did lift the requirement that it be a cash bond.

The judge also added stipulations to the bond, including that if Harper bonds out, he wear an ankle monitor and surrender his weapons.

Harper was arrested for allegedly bringing an AR-style rifle into a Twin Peaks restaurant the day after the new permitless carry law went into effect this month.

The police who arrested him said the law prohibiting rifles in businesses that serve alcohol didnt change.

Harpers attorney argued that the $100,000 bond wasnt appropriate for a crime that carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a $1.000 fine, and that it isnt necessary to ensure hell show up in court for future hearings.

More here:
Self-proclaimed Second Amendment auditor bonds out of jail after judge refuses bond reduction - KFOR Oklahoma City

Original intent is a term often quoted in Supreme Court rulings. It means what was actually intended at the time that the Constitution was written. The best way to make this determination posthumously is to examine the historical records of society and technology at the time they were written.

In 1787, when the Constitution was written, the majority of the American landmass was under control of Native Americans, slavery was flourishing and the prevailing weapon was the flintlock rifle. Much of the frontier was lawless, and there were frequent clashes between the natives and the people moving onto their lands. According to historical records, there were frequent groups of armed men used to hunt down runaway slaves.

Under these circumstances, it was entirely understandable that there were constitutional protections for militias and gun ownership since the government clearly had a policy of driving the Native Americans from their ancestral lands, the frontier was often lawless and slaves often either rebelled against brutal conditions or attempted an escape to the north or even Canada. Hence the Second Amendment was written and ratified securing the right to hunt down runaway slaves and to force Native Americans from their lands.

In actual practice, the military had the responsibility for driving Native Americans from their lands, and thus the main use of private armed militias was enforcing slavery. These things are well documented in the historical record.

Fast forward to the present, and these conditions have no relevance. Flintlocks have long since been replaced by weapons with lethality far beyond anything imaginable by the writers of the Constitution. Native Americans have long since been driven from their ancestral lands and confined to reservations. Even though the movies have glamorized the posses of cowboys, by far the greatest use of the militia component of the Second Amendment was for the capture of runaway slaves. Slavery has long since been eliminated, and militias have long since been replaced by city, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Yet the Second Amendment still stands as the law of the land in clear violation of the original intent doctrine. Not only is it still the law of the land, but it also has been expanded to allow private ownership of weapons of war that have unleashed mayhem within our cities.

Can anyone claim that this was what our founding fathers anticipated?

If a challenge to the Second Amendment were to be taken to the Supreme Court, the outcome would depend upon whether the justices were to own up to the reality that exists today or vote to stick with the president and Senate that put them onto the court. Often the Supreme Court justices bend to their political base rather than the original intent that they claim.

See the rest here:
Original intent and the Second Amendment - Post Register

On a busy Tuesday, three county commissioners courts met and passed resolutions declaring themselves to be Second Amendment sanctuaries.

All passed the measure unanimously.

With the approval of resolutions in Kaufman, Stephens, and Palo Pinto, the number of such sanctuaries in Texas grows to a total of eleven.

The expanding list signals frustration with the increased discussion about stricter firearm regulations and gun control measures, including red flag laws, expanded background checks, and firearm confiscation.

Prior to Tuesday, Edwards, Hudspeth, Presidio, Mitchell, Hood, Parker, Smith, and Ellis counties had passed the pro-Second Amendment resolutions.

Get started today for free and become the most informed Texan you know after your first month, it's just $9.00.

In the resolutions, all counties have said that they will support the county sheriff and will not enforce any unconstitutional firearm restrictions.

As in many of the previous cases, all three sheriffs in the most recent counties to become sanctuaries voiced their support for the measure.

I dont actually get to sign resolutions, said Sheriff Will Holt of Stephens County, but I do want yall the court to know and (to put it) on record with the media and with the folks here that I support this resolution 100 percent.

Sheriff Brett McGuire of Palo Pinto County noted on a social media post how many people have expressed concerns about what certain politicians have spouted off hoping that they could get a sound-bite on the 5 oclock news.

Quite frankly, most of these politicians probably dont know the difference between an AR-15 and a leaf blower (and most of them have never used either one of them), said McGuire. Truth be told, the Sheriffs of Texas are some of your biggest supporters of the 2nd Amendment and the remaining rights afforded to you under the Constitution. You see, we have to be. And none of us would have taken this job if we werent.

The practical consequences of the Second Amendment sanctuary resolutions whether potential unconstitutional firearm restrictions will be protected against if current restrictions are left untouched has been questioned.

Regardless of how effective the resolutions might be in the future, those enacting them and those calling for them see the resolutions as a commitment to their belief in and defense of the constitutionally protected right for an individual to keep and bear arms.

A free bi-weekly commentary on current events by Konni Burton.

Originally posted here:
Kaufman, Palo Pinto, and Stephens Counties Become Second Amendment Sanctuaries - The Texan

Manhattan: Re Warrens Rx, and ours (editorial, Nov. 7): A universal, state-funded health care plan would benefit every New Yorker. Surely the residents of the richest state in the richest nation on Earth can afford the right to health care that residents of every other advanced country already enjoy. As a board member of the Campaign for New York Health, I know that many studies conducted by us and others have shown that the taxes to fund New York Health Act would, in fact, be substantially less than what private insurance premiums, co-pays, and deductibles now cost us, and they would be fairer, based on ability to pay. We should demand that our Legislature take this opportunity to do something wonderful for the residents of this state and make universal, comprehensive, affordable health care available to all of us. Leonard Rodberg, research director, NY Metro Chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program

Read more here:
Readers sound off on New York Health Act, the Second Amendment and the Mets - New York Daily News

Joe Biden raked in campaign cash at two private Seattle fundraisers on Friday, including one at the home of a top Amazon executive, where the former vice president ever-so-gently raised the role the company has played in the loss of some middle-class jobs.

Speaking at the Queen Anne neighborhood home of David Zapolsky, Amazons general counsel, who introduced him as someone who can bring stability, Biden lamented the Democratic Partys failure to speak to working-class constituencies who have grown pessimistic about their economic futures.

Thats due in part, Biden said, to the technological revolution Amazon has helped lead.

Im in the House of Amazon here, Biden said, drawing quiet chuckles from the crowd of a few dozen donors at the $2,800-per-person event.

Seriously, think of the change that is taking place and why people are frightened. Nothing bad youve done good things. But 200,000 salespeople are out of work because people are shopping online now.

Bidens tone was more pleading than scolding, especially compared with the strong anti-corporate stances taken by some of his rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination, such as Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Biden criticized short-term thinking by corporations, including a focus on quarterly earnings, as well as hundreds of billions of dollars in stock buybacks. Such transactions have been criticized for enriching executives at the expense of job-growing investments.

A lot of it has to do with the notion that we have no obligation to anyone other than our stockholders, Biden said.

At the Zapolsky home, and at an earlier fundraiser at the Madison Park home of local philanthropist Janet Ketcham that drew 105 donors paying $500 or more, Biden said hed seek to close some tax loopholes as part of his plans to offer free community college and free universal preschool.

Without naming names, Biden criticized more sweeping spending plans promoted by his Democratic primary opponents as unrealistic.

A lot of it has to do with leveling with the American people, he said, referring to proposals for Medicare for All, swift elimination of student debt, and providing free four-year college education. Very appealing, he said, but not possible in the near term.

Instead, Biden touted his plans to build on Obamacare and offer a public health insurance option.

Biden spent much of his speeches talking up his experience, saying he needed no on-the-job training. He also restated his assertion mocked by some other Democrats that if President Donald Trump could only be defeated, the Republican Party would change and become willing to compromise on an array of issues, including climate change.

He boasted of being targeted by Russian President Vladimir Putin and by North Koreas Kim Jong Un, whose government this week called Biden a rabid dog who deserved to be beaten to death with a stick. Biden said he took it as a compliment, calling the North Korean dictator a thug.

At the earlier event, Biden brought up the latest school shooting, this week in Santa Clarita, California, in which a teenager killed two classmates and wounded three others, calling the succession of such tragedies a moral failure.

While saying he supports the Second Amendment, Biden called the absolutist arguments of some gun-rights supporters bizarre. Noting people cant own machine guns or bazookas, Biden said, Why should we allow people to have military-style weapons including pistols with 9-mm bullets and can hold 10 or more rounds?

He called the anxiety among young people over being shot in school these days overwhelming and not just in tough neighborhoods but in great neighborhoods like this.

Mentioning his own shotgun ownership, Biden talked about Delaware goose-hunting restrictions that limit hunters to three shotgun shells. We protect geese from Canada more than we do people, he said.

Biden last campaigned in Washington state in June, speaking at private fundraisers in Seattle and Medina. Then, as on Friday, he made no public appearances, unlike some of his 2020 rivals. Warren drew a crowd of 15,000 to a campaign rally at Seattle Center in August, and New York entrepreneur Andrew Yang spoke to a crowd of about 1,000 at Gas Works Park in May.

Asked about Bidens itinerary not including any public events, state Democratic Party Chair Tina Podlodowski said in a statement: We understand all of the Democratic challengers need resources to compete against the President. However, weve encouraged all the 2020 candidates to do public events and get to know the great people of our state, and not just here in Seattle.

Washingtons presidential primary has been moved ahead from previous years. It is scheduled for March 10, 2020, just a month afterNew Hampshires first-in-the-nation primary.

Excerpt from:
Speaking at the House of Amazon, Joe Biden gently raises companys role in middle-class job losses - Seattle Times