John Paul Stevens, a retired associate justice of the United States Supreme Court called, in a New York Times oped piece today (3/27/18), for the repeal of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The amendment forms the foundation of how and why Americans can and do own weapons.
I have a soft spot in my heart for the U.S. Supreme Court. Despite some dramatic and deleterious flubs (think of the Citizens United case, a decision that has allowed unfettered spending in the political arena), the court is as close as my country is likely to get to a dispassionate arbitrator. I am inclined to listen and research when that court, and its members, speaks. Since revising the Constitution requires "two-thirds of the House and Senate [must] approve of the proposal and send it to the states for a vote. Then, three-fourths of the states must affirm the proposed Amendment"....
OK, Stevens' suggestion has less than a snowball's chance in hell. But what he has done is to name the 900-pound gorilla in the living room. And for that, I for one, am grateful. The National Rifle Association may gloat as Stevens puts his ass on the line but at least Stevens has some balls.
It ain't going to happen, but I'm glad there's a man alive who tried to make it happen.
PS. Blowback on 3/28/18 ... President Donald Trump, of all featherweights, Tweeted:"THE SECOND AMENDMENT WILL NEVER BE REPEALED!" While true, using Trump as a defender of the Constitutional faith seems a bit tepid, to say the least. Stevens may be an uncompromising liberal in conservative eyes, but he can and does know how to think. His arguments do not rest entirely on bluster and volume and self-service.
I have a soft spot in my heart for the U.S. Supreme Court. Despite some dramatic and deleterious flubs (think of the Citizens United case, a decision that has allowed unfettered spending in the political arena), the court is as close as my country is likely to get to a dispassionate arbitrator. I am inclined to listen and research when that court, and its members, speaks. Since revising the Constitution requires "two-thirds of the House and Senate [must] approve of the proposal and send it to the states for a vote. Then, three-fourths of the states must affirm the proposed Amendment"....
OK, Stevens' suggestion has less than a snowball's chance in hell. But what he has done is to name the 900-pound gorilla in the living room. And for that, I for one, am grateful. The National Rifle Association may gloat as Stevens puts his ass on the line but at least Stevens has some balls.
It ain't going to happen, but I'm glad there's a man alive who tried to make it happen.
PS. Blowback on 3/28/18 ... President Donald Trump, of all featherweights, Tweeted:"THE SECOND AMENDMENT WILL NEVER BE REPEALED!" While true, using Trump as a defender of the Constitutional faith seems a bit tepid, to say the least. Stevens may be an uncompromising liberal in conservative eyes, but he can and does know how to think. His arguments do not rest entirely on bluster and volume and self-service.
Reminds me of reactive over parenting.
ReplyDeleteNot thinking things through only makes matters worse.
"THE SECOND AMENDMENT WILL NEVER BE REPEALED! As much as Democrats would like to see this happen, and despite the words yesterday of former Supreme Court Justice Stevens, NO WAY. We need more Republicans in 2018 and must ALWAYS hold the Supreme Court!"
ReplyDelete— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2018
All Justice Stephen's accomplished was throwing a grenade in the current culture war.
If there is hope of slowing down the proliferation of guns like the AREA-15 it's with the current batch of demonstrators if they have the stamina and get enough backing to keep it up through the 2020 Elections.
Just noticed the dumb auto correct of AR-15
Delete