Pres. Obama has decided to make a strong pitch for gun control legislation, and to use executive orders to do whatever he can do without Congressional action. Sadly, this is one area where I cannot accept the congressional Republicans' position — they are as much in fealty to the NRA as the Democrats are to organized labor on the issues they consider important. So on this issue — gun control — I want the President to prevail.
I recognize that most of the measures being proposed would not have prevented the Newtown murders. Unfortunately, the only thing that might have done so would be unconstitutional: confiscation of all guns not in the hands of the police or military. And to make this constitutional requires an amendment that will never get through the process, repealing the Second Amendment. The problem is, as good as our Constitution is in so many ways, it has a few blemishes resulting from the fact that the world has changed in the 200+ years since its adoption, without the necessary amendments. Some things, like the provision authorizing Congress to issue “letters of marque and reprisal,” actually cause no problems — the Congress just doesn't exercise this power. But the Second Amendment is a terrible blemish. And one that will not go away, because there are actually people who think it is a source of liberty for our population. And these people are numerous enough to prevent its repeal.
I really do not know the solution. We have to live with the Second Amendment, and with it being there, we can't do what really needs to be done: to get rid of all these guns that threaten our people.
I recognize that most of the measures being proposed would not have prevented the Newtown murders. Unfortunately, the only thing that might have done so would be unconstitutional: confiscation of all guns not in the hands of the police or military. And to make this constitutional requires an amendment that will never get through the process, repealing the Second Amendment. The problem is, as good as our Constitution is in so many ways, it has a few blemishes resulting from the fact that the world has changed in the 200+ years since its adoption, without the necessary amendments. Some things, like the provision authorizing Congress to issue “letters of marque and reprisal,” actually cause no problems — the Congress just doesn't exercise this power. But the Second Amendment is a terrible blemish. And one that will not go away, because there are actually people who think it is a source of liberty for our population. And these people are numerous enough to prevent its repeal.
I really do not know the solution. We have to live with the Second Amendment, and with it being there, we can't do what really needs to be done: to get rid of all these guns that threaten our people.
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