General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe First vs the Second Amendments.
Amendment ICongress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
There are laws that regulate religion, speech and assembly. There has never been a serious consideration that there can be no laws pertaining to these areas. From outlawing certain religious behavior to laws against pornography and over the air broadcast, to the requirement for a permit for a protest march, these areas are curtailed at times in ways that have been deemed constitutional.
So why do gun advocates insist that there can be no laws hampering gun ownership?
(this is certainly the NRA's stance)
Recursion
(56,582 posts)There's no real opposition to the National Firearms Act
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Or banning felons from buying guns.
You asked why some people think there should be no laws hampering gun ownership, and I pointed out that nobody actually thinks that.
hack89
(39,171 posts)in fact in Heller the supreme court specifically said that guns can be regulated. I support Heller.
aikoaiko
(34,172 posts)It's where we draw the line that is the debate.
Even the NRA help us improve the law requiring mental illness reporting about the Virginia Tech massacre.
virginia mountainman
(5,046 posts)Laws regulating speech, are only enforceable AFTER the offence has occurred. For example...
It is very much against the law to shout "FIRE" in a crowded theater..BUT, their is no law stating, that because your mouth can shout fire, you must have a 30 day waiting period, background checks, and because the theater is a "no shouting fire zone" have your mouth sewn shut when you enter.
The law, correctly punishes the BEHAVIOR, not the ability to break the law.
Most gun control laws, punish those that don't commit the crimes.
edhopper
(33,587 posts)make people get a permit to assemble?
Nobody is "punished" before they own a gun, they are punished if they obtain it illegally.
So that's just NRA talking points BS.
davidn3600
(6,342 posts)You can restrict gun ownership on criminals and the mentally insane.
But if you got a responsible person who has done nothing wrong, and is perfectly sane, why must he or she be punished because some psychopath decided to go on a killing spree?