We place many limitations on the Bill of Rights, and the 2nd Amendment should be no different.

[Music Man]

We have carved out plenty of exceptions to the Bill of Rights, and most are ones nobody would ever question. You have the freedom of speech, but you can't libel or slander someone. You have the freedom of assembly, but you must obtain a permit. You have the right to a trial by jury, except for civil cases at the state level.

There's no reason that the right to bear arms, especially with its inherent possibility for violence, shouldn't stand up to similar exceptions, including who can own guns and what kind of guns can circulate among the general population.

Many Americans have been led to believe that the Second Amendment is ironclad because of a well-organized NRA. Well it's time for those of us who are tired of these kind of events to get just as organized.

[Thomas Hurt]

1. The 2nd Amendment is not absolute, even Scalia agreed with that...

now that may change with the current crop of christofascists on the court.

[JimGinPA]

2. +1000

K&R

[NutmegYankee]

3. One note of correction: freedom of assembly

The freedom of assembly is a right to assemble as peaceful group in both private and public spaces. It does not require a permit in private spaces, or every church would need one for every meeting of the congregation. The permit is only required if the group is going to effectively deny a public space to others, such as by blocking streets or sidewalks.

[Music Man]

4. Point taken.

I think my point is that a permit is required in some contexts, and no one insists it is a barrier to the right to assembly.

[NutmegYankee]

6. Its not a barrier because it's doesn't address it at all

The permit is not permission to hold a meeting, protest, or rally, it's only to allow use of public spaces for a specific singular event. It prevents competing groups from trying to use the same space at the same time. It allow addresses any traffic or law enforcement needs. The group applying for the permit is still allowed to meet for peaceful purposes even if a permit is denied, it just has to be another location.

[Igel]

7. Yeah, people have. And do.

When told to be in "free speech zones" there was a lot of complaining.

When told they can't protest in specific locations, they complain.

Suits have been filed. Requiring permits that are typically content neutral (or which are denied when there's grave danger of the protest being taken as a provocation and resulting in violence) is fine, but mostly to make sure for any given patch of pavement there's just one group. Rather like reserving space for a picnic at a state park.

[needledriver]

5. All these and many, many more

National Firearms Act of 1934
Gun Control Act of 1968
Firearm Owners Protection Act of 1986
Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990
Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act 0f 1993
and for those of us in California:
Roberti-Roos Assault Weapons Control Act of 1989
San Francisco Proposition H (2005)
50 Caliber BMG Regulation Act of 2004

[aikoaiko]

8. True. To your point 2nd is already restricted by many laws.