Nevada ACLU supports an individual’s right to bear arms

[davepc]

Everyone loves guns in Nevada. Ducks Unlimited, the National Rifle Association, Republicans, the American Civil Liberties Union, the ...

Wait. The ACLU?

The Nevada ACLU has declared its support for an individual’s right to bear arms, apparently making it the first state affiliate in the nation to buck the national organization’s position on the Second Amendment.

The state board of directors reached the decision this month after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects the rights of individuals to own handguns.

“The Nevada ACLU respects the individual’s right to bear arms subject to constitutionally permissible regulations,” a statement on the organization’s Web site said. “The ACLU of Nevada will defend this right as it defends other constitutional rights.”

“This was the consensus,” said Allen Lichtenstein, general counsel for ACLU of Nevada. “There really wasn’t a lot of dissent.”

...

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/jul/11/only-nevada-aclu-opposes-gun-control/

[rpannier]

1. Good for them

I'm an ACLU member
I don't own any guns, nor do I forsee myself ever owning them
But, if others wish to own them that's fine

Afterall...
It's their rights

[east texas lib]

2. And so it begins...

Will other state affiliates follow? We'll see.

[jody]

3. Wonderful! I hope DUers from other states post to this thread when their states adopt a pro or con

position on the Heller decision.

Thanks for starting this thread. :hi:

[littlecryinggirl]

4. I for one

am glad to see our party lay off the gun issue somewhat. I have always had a real problem with the DP being seen as anti gun. Been a real sore spot for me along with one or two other issues. Anyway, I hope this is behind us.

[jeepnstein]

11. Best thing that ever happened to us.

I told a friend a while back that the Heller decision would be the best thing that ever happened to the Democrat Party. At the time, he didn't even know the case was pending. Since I'm a "gun nut" it was an issue I was watching. He was surprised that it was even in front of the Court and agreed that we could easily make an Albatross of an issue disappear overnight if the Court ruled the way it eventually did.

[krispos42]

5. Goodbye, NRA-ILA

The ACLU is horning in on your turf

[AtheistCrusader]

6. That's a good thing.

I wouldn't mind seeing the political arm of the NRA die off.

[jody]

7. My dream, ACLU embrace Heller and encourage NRA to fight every law suit sure to follow as the courts

fine tune the actual meaning of the Heller decision.

That would keep NRA busy for a few decades and leave little money for NRA to fight partisan political battles against our Democratic Party.

[pipoman]

10. If in fact the NRA

is prepared to spend $40M in the upcoming presidential election, there probably isn't enough court battles to deplete their war chests. A couple million dollars goes a long way in most Supreme Court fights.

[tburnsten]

12. I don't even care if they stick around

I'm just glad that our foremost defender of all civil liberties is finally recognizing ALL our civil liberties, and not picking and choosing what they feel are "politically correct" civil liberties. Hopefully the Nevada ACLU move will spread to other state ACLU offices, like they said it isn't really a big deal, unless you need some representation that the ACLU is well prepared to provide.

[aikoaiko]

8. I'm surprised the Texas chapter hasn't chimed in as well.

There were, for a while, the only state level ACLU organization speaking about the 2nd as an individual right.

[jody]

9. Link below to Nevada ACLU site and its statement re RKBA

http://www.aclunv.org/aclu-nevada-supports-individual%E2%80%99s-right-bear-arms
ACLU of Nevada Supports Individual’s Right to Bear Arms
Submitted by Paige Thie on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 23:08.

In light of the United States Supreme Court's decision concerning the D.C. handgun ban (District of Columbia v. Heller) the ACLU of Nevada considers it important to clearly state its position regarding the right to bear arms. The Nevada ACLU respects the individual's right to bear arms subject to constitutionally permissible regulations. The ACLU of Nevada will defend this right as it defends other constitutional rights. This policy was formulated by our afilliate Board in light of both the U.S. Constitution and the clearly-stated individual right to bear arms as set out in the Nevada Constitution's Declaration of Rights.