The Right to Life and Liberty Includes a Right to Self-Defense
On BigGovernment.com Robert Allen Bonelli makes an excellent point:
"Our God given right to life, as declared in the Declaration of Independence, is meaningless without the right to self-defense...and that right should not be impaired by government in any way.
...
Rather than arguing the intent of the Second Amendment, the debate is far better framed by focusing on how a citizen’s unalienable right to life and a citizen’s unrestricted right to self-defense are connected. Without the right to self-defense, our guarantee of the right to life is meaningless."
Bonelli uses the example of the recent shooting in a New York pharmacy (where four innocent people were killed by an armed robber) to help make his case. But there is also the current situation in Peoria where large mobs of black youth are using social media to organize violent and terrorizing attacks on the local citizens.
Bonelli's insight is interesting and true. The right to life is a right to self-defense and states that infringe on the Second Amendment violate the most sovereign rights of man...life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I added the second two, because it's hard to have liberty and happiness when you're dead.
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May '10
Re: The Right to Life and Liberty Includes a Right to Self-Defense
From Wilkinson's letter:
Crowds are "yelling threats" about a "need to kill alll the white people", so he writes a stern letter to his Congressman.
What good are guns in the hands of people not willing or not free to protect themselves?
Dec '10
Re: The Right to Life and Liberty Includes a Right to Self-Defense
I live in a city (Bakersfield) with a 2nd amendment friendly sheriff. Even in gun-hating California, CCW permits are common here. I note this because in my profession (private practice of criminal defense) I have noticed that true home invasion burglary is almost unknown (most homeowners are armed & willing to shoot) and the thought of mobs organizing "violent and terrorizing attacks on the local citizens" can only apply to another world.
May '10
Re: The Right to Life and Liberty Includes a Right to Self-Defense
Another world being Illinois.
May '10
Re: The Right to Life and Liberty Includes a Right to Self-Defense
Aaron Miller
From Wilkinson's letter:
Crowds are "yelling threats" about a "need to kill alll the white people", so he writes a stern letter to his Congressman.
What good are guns in the hands of people not willing or not free to protect themselves? · Jun 27 at 9:43am
The only thing bad guys understand is strength. The strongest unarmed man is weak and the weakest armed woman is formidable. Firearms in the hands of citizens even the playing field and intimidate the otherwise bold. Maybe Paul Wilkinson plans to yell, "Stop! I wrote a letter to my congressman!" as they pound on his door and break his windows.
May '10
Re: The Right to Life and Liberty Includes a Right to Self-Defense
When seconds count, the police will be there. In mere minutes.
May '10
Re: The Right to Life and Liberty Includes a Right to Self-Defense
I carry a gun in my pocket. Cause a cop is too heavy. (no pocket jokes!)
Nov '10
Re: The Right to Life and Liberty Includes a Right to Self-Defense
Adrea -- exactly right! Mere life and the protection/defense thereof is our most primary right. Take that away and whatever good life that people obtain is essentially meaningless.
The first thing I want to know about a person is where they stand on guns and gun control. For a "quick n' dirty" read on a person, this is far more telling about a person's "soul" than anything else. I'm not interested in if they believe in God or anything else. So first thing, guns. It essentially tells me whether the person is realistic about the world.
Everything after that is more or less commentary.
Jul '10
Re: The Right to Life and Liberty Includes a Right to Self-Defense
Gee, I wonder who is more likely to be arrested in Peoria? Black "youths" who engage in flash terror? Or a citizen who openly and peacefully carries a firearm on the street?
Law enforcement agencies are complicit it this charade. It's just easier for them to enforce bad gun law than it is to ensure safe streets.
Jan '11
Re: The Right to Life and Liberty Includes a Right to Self-Defense
I tried to read the original source of the Peoria story - sketchy with not a lot of confirmation. (Not that I don't believe it however . . . )
In my opinion, we are witnessing something new - the rising of the "flash mob" - who through years of being told that capitalism is evil and that [insert identity group] are oppressed, intimidation, theft, and violence are justified and infact laudable.
Just cast an eye north to the recent events in Vancouver post Stanley Cup - "restive youth" happily plundering stores, then issuing half apologies when they are caught. You see, it's not their fault because they are good people!
New legislation is desperately needed - outlawing covering one's face in public, and enacting some vague "associating with a mob" law. It doesn't proactively solve the problem - but at least it gives the police something so they can intervene and arrest/disperse before things get out of hand.
Sep '10
Re: The Right to Life and Liberty Includes a Right to Self-Defense
In the collected letters of Flannery O' Connor, she has one letter about a yet to be published book she's working on with a chapter titled "You Can't Be Any Poorer Than Dead"
May '10
Re: The Right to Life and Liberty Includes a Right to Self-Defense
Erik Larsen: ...we are witnessing something new - the rising of the "flash mob" - who through years of being told that capitalism is evil and that [insert identity group] are oppressed, intimidation, theft, and violence are justified and infact laudable.
Just cast an eye north to the recent events in Vancouver post Stanley Cup - ...
I think we are, too. And, as Ann Coulter says, "The demon is a mob and the mob is demonic". This was insight the Founding Fathers had and why they were so careful to maintain integrity and order during public protests (i.e. the Boston Tea Party). This is something the Tea Party understands and adheres to, as well. A mob can be a very dangerous and destructive thing. Another argument for why personal responsibility is so critical...mob mentality lacks that.
Nov '10
Re: The Right to Life and Liberty Includes a Right to Self-Defense
Many moons ago (1972) I drove a Yellow Cab in Denver during one summer of college. There had been a cab driver killed and several robberies of cab drivers in the preceding months. One night the local TV news featured a story on the cab robberies with an interview of the head of the Denver Cab Commission. I couldn’t believe my ears when he said the worst thing that could come out this is that cabbies might start carrying guns, and he warned that any cabbie caught with a gun would lose his cab license and be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
I immediately became a confirmed Second Amendment supporter.
Things have changed in Colorado. The discretionary issue CCW law became a shall-issue law in 2003. There were about 10,000 permits [including mine] outstanding under the discretionary law. Under the new law that number has increased to an estimated 150,000 [CBI only reports annual numbers so you have to keep track]. Many thousands of permits have been issued to residents of the Denver.
In discretionary 1984 radio host Alan Berg was denied a permit, and then killed by "The Order."
May '10
Re: The Right to Life and Liberty Includes a Right to Self-Defense
Erik Larsen: ...
New legislation is desperately needed - outlawing covering one's face in public, and enacting some vague "associating with a mob" law. It doesn't proactively solve the problem - but at least it gives the police something so they can intervene and arrest/disperse before things get out of hand.
There are already laws in place to prevent public disorder such as this. We just need government to remove the unConstitutional burdens that make it difficult for citizens to defend themselves.
May '10
Re: The Right to Life and Liberty Includes a Right to Self-Defense
Since the courts have already held that the government is not responsible for protecting individual citizens, we must have the right to defend ourselves, and the right to the means therefore.
May '10
Re: The Right to Life and Liberty Includes a Right to Self-Defense
Kennedy's right. Andrea is our blond Sarah Palin. And we all know my feelings toward the Divine Sarah.
Jun '10
Re: The Right to Life and Liberty Includes a Right to Self-Defense
A question I would like asked at the next Republican presidential debate: 9mm or .45 ACP?
May '10
Re: The Right to Life and Liberty Includes a Right to Self-Defense
I know your choice. :-) Good suggestion and this goes along with what Robert Lux wrote above:
Robert Lux: ...
The first thing I want to know about a person is where they stand on guns and gun control. For a "quick n' dirty" read on a person, this is far more telling about a person's "soul" than anything else. ...
I agree. A person who respects the individual's right to bear arms is generally pretty squared away with respecting other fundamental rights, as well.
Aug '10
Re: The Right to Life and Liberty Includes a Right to Self-Defense
Excellent point, and very well stated, Andrea. It reinforces the Second Amendment very nicely.
Sep '10
Re: The Right to Life and Liberty Includes a Right to Self-Defense
.45 ACP or they don't get my vote!
May '10
Re: The Right to Life and Liberty Includes a Right to Self-Defense
"Our God given right to life, as declared in the Declaration of Independence, is meaningless without the right to self-defense...and that right should not be impaired by government in any way."
Just to play devil's advocate, I think gun rights should be limited in some way. Not everyone should be able to purchase a gun - think the Virginia Tech shooter. I don't know of anyone making a reasonable case disputing the validity of the 2nd Amendment, nor am I against responsible citizens arming themselves. I am against lax laws that allow mentally unstable people to easily purchase and carry guns. If anything, I'd hope guns owners would advocate for stronger gun laws. Guns may provide a sense of security, but I wonder how many people are properly trained how to use them in a threatening situation (mugging, assault, home invasion, etc) when fear and stress predominate, not just how to shoot them at the firing range.
Edited on June 27, 2011 at 11:58pm