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Marty Schneider
Member since Jan 12, 2015
Recent Comments
Re: “Rally Will Promote Universal Background Checks on Gun Sales”
Soap Box
I agree with you that the Terror Watch list is a very flawed system. I don't agree it should be used for background checks, and it seems, as a whole, pretty bad. It my view, though, it's a whole separate entity and discussion.
Posted by
Marty Schneider
on 07/15/2016 at 12:24 PM
Re: “Rally Will Promote Universal Background Checks on Gun Sales”
Soap Box
If you're going to use the verbiage of the day, you might as well go all in. Can't have the best of both worlds.
What was the militia of the day? It was a team of men, proven to have no Loyalist inclinations, trained to act professionally. George Washington himself, upon assuming command of the Continental Army (which in 1775 was comprised entirely of militia), said, “All the General Officers agree that no Dependence can be put on the Militia for a Continuance in Camp, or Regularity and Discipline during the short time they may stay.” He would later say, “To place any dependence upon militia is assuredly resting upon a broken staff.”
Additionally, the Constitution itself gives Congress considerable powers over the Militia.
Article One
Section 8
"To make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces;
To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;"
Posted by
Marty Schneider
on 07/15/2016 at 10:45 AM
Re: “Rally Will Promote Universal Background Checks on Gun Sales”
FreedomToThink
Also, you say that 4-year-olds who are mistakenly put on the terror watch list have no recourse for getting off it?! Come on. There's obviously a process for getting off of it, and, in that situation, I would think it would be pretty rapid. That statement is pure government paranoia. If that's your thinking, maybe you should move to a country without government, like Somalia.
Posted by
Marty Schneider
on 07/15/2016 at 9:46 AM
Re: “Rally Will Promote Universal Background Checks on Gun Sales”
FreedomToThink
A) The 2nd amendment clearly calls for a "well-regulated militia." What you're advocating for is an unregulated militia. That would be unconstitutional. I have a constitutional right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Convicted murderers who are prone to violence, along with mentally unstable people, are likely to infringe on my right to life if they own a gun. It would clearly be unconstitutional to allow them to possess one.
If you possess a social security card then the government already has you in a database. That's the price you pay for living in a society. You get benefits... roads, firetrucks, parks, clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, etc.... and in return you are expected to be recorded, pay taxes, respect others rights. If you don't like it, move into the mountains and don't use public resources. But, then, again, you would still be breathing the clean air that the government regulates and keeps clean for you.
B) Your fantasy of everyone (the mentally ill, convicts, children) being able to own a gun sounds very very dangerous. I don't want to be walking down Main Street, knowing that there was a good chance the paranoid schizophrenic man who's seeing phantom people has a gun ready to shoot. I don't want my children living in a world where their 10-year-old classmates come to school armed and ready to shoot in event of a petty argument. It seems that's what you're advocating for, and it's, frankly, scary.
Posted by
Marty Schneider
on 07/15/2016 at 9:42 AM
Re: “'Incoherent' Rifle-Wielding Man Posed Dilemma for Police”
Interesting... crickets from the 2nd amendment advocates who believe that background checks are a violation of the Constitution. I would expect you all to be upset at this clear violation of this mentally ill and incoherent man's 2nd amendment rights!
Posted by
Marty Schneider
on 07/15/2016 at 8:32 AM
Re: “Rally Will Promote Universal Background Checks on Gun Sales”
You all say that this violates Article 16 of the Vermont Constitution, which says that the people have the right to bear arms. How does a background check take away that right?
Would you say that a convicted murderer should have the right, once free, to own a gun as well? Because by this reading of the Constitution, that seems to be the case...
Posted by
Marty Schneider
on 07/14/2016 at 12:20 PM
Re: “Walters: Scott, Hallquist Draw Clear Contrasts in Second Debate”
Joe and David, Fair Game has always provided the political news with an editorial bent. You don't come here for AP style reporting.