REPEAL and REPLACE the 2nd Amendment

[libpride_15]

In the news, mental illness is being used as a scapegoat.

We dance around the issue, maybe chipping away at the edges with assault ban this, and background check that.

We know what the real problem is.

We're the only nation with this level of gun violence and a second amendment. Is it obvious or what?

Archie Bunker once said: "Would you rather they was thrown out of a building?" Well at this point, yes, it's getting out of hand.

Maybe you should have to prove you're worthy of having a gun, like say a cop.

Some kind of opt-in system instead of having to prove someone unworthy.

Repeal for the children; replace for the gun nuts.

I'd quote an article about gun violence, but aren't there enough of them already?

[ileus]

1. IMHO my life means I'm worthy.

Why do you think only cops lives are worthy of protecting???

As for me and my family we choose to keep all our rights...now that's progressive.

[LonePirate]

9. Have you thought about how irrational that mindset is?

The so-called boogeyman doesn't know if you are armed or not. That matters not to him/her. A sign in your yard or front door stating you are a gun owner is a far better way to keep away any threats who would be intimidated by your gun ownership. Also, is your peace of mind worth justifying the extreme increase in the likelihood of your weapons being used accidentally or intentionally against those same people you are trying to protect? Where does that reality register on your fear scale? Why not carry a taser instead of a gun to subdue any hypothetical threats you fear?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

2. You can't even get law enforcement agencies and citizens to

to comply with magazine bans and registration laws already on the books. You cannot disarm the people because they do not consent to your demands.

[DrDan]

3. like that will ever happen

gunners have what they want . . . and beyond.

They are not about to give up a single inch. How much has happened since Columbine 16 years ago. Nothing.

And you are proposing "repeal and replace"?

[hack89]

4. Stop using the 2A as an excuse

AWBs, registration, UBCs, magazine limits, licensing requirements are all constitutional right now. Stop using the 2A as an excuse - it is not stopping you from passing strict gun control.

[TeddyR]

5. So I'll start by saying

That I support the Second Amendment's protection of an individual right to keep and bear arms. I also support reasonable gun restrictions - no guns for former felons, no guns for those convicted of domestic abuse, no guns for the mentally ill (though there's a lot of issues that need to be resolved with this one -- what is "mentally ill," what illnesses justify a ban, etc.). I'm willing to consider training requirements, since that would help prevent accidental gun deaths (but do nothing to prevent mass shootings or murders). Insurance is a non-starter for me - no insurance company is going to insure against criminal misuse of a weapon so all you are doing is making gun ownership more expensive with no corresponding benefit. I'm willing to discuss gun registration since I don't think that our government is going to try and suddenly seize millions of guns, despite the fact that some people on DU would support such a seizure, even if it would be blatantly unconstitutional.

With respect to repealing the Second Amendment, that also is something I would oppose, and I would not vote for a politician that supported such a proposal. In any event, even if you could convince Congress to introduce such legislation -- highly doubtful -- you would never, ever have sufficient support amongst the states to actually repeal the Second.

[Codeine]

6. People rarely vote to repeal their rights.

Good luck with that.

[melm00se]

7. get cracking

Article V

The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress; provided that no amendment which may be made prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses in the ninth section of the first article; and that no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate.

BTW, good luck in getting the necessary 3/4's. all it takes is 13 states to say "no" and the proposed change is dead in the water.

[LonePirate]

10. I see you are not thinking long term here. Opinions are changing.

The support for a repeal grows with each passing day. It may take 30-50 years but there is little doubt where we are headed. Gun ownership rates are dropping. Millennials look at gun nuts as aliens from another planet. Gen Z will only detest guns even more as they grow up in this gun violence filled culture of ours. The repeal will take time but it is coming.

[GGJohn]

11. The support for repeal grows every day?

I suppose you have a link to back that up?
Latest Pew Research Center poll shows more Americans now support gun rights than more gun control, and, Americans are 75%-25% against any handgun ban.

[melm00se]

12. that may be true

but there are at least 13 states that view firearms as a necessary tool.

I have a friend in WY who owns a ranch and he never goes anywhere on his property without a firearm, predators are too much of a risk (nothing drives that home then when my buddy says he never strays more than 10 feet from his rifle when working on his fences and "why?" I ask and cougar darts out of the tree line less than 50 yards away...question asked and answered).

Lets look at gun ownership (as a percentage of the population).

States that such an amendment has no chance to passing
AK (60%+)
AR (58%)
ID (57%)
WY (54%)
WV (54%)
MT (52%)

that's half the number necessary in shooting down passing an attempt to repeal the 2nd amendment.

Now mix in:
NM
ND
LA
KY
SC
MS
AL
All of which have >40% gun ownership, your dream really starts to fade.

[LonePirate]

13. You are using present day statistics to argue against an action which is decades away.

Those ownership statistics will be even smaller in 2050. The Republican Party may not exist then. The NRA may rightfully be designated as a terrorist organization then. I would recommend examining trends and understanding those under 30 when trying to apply point in time statistics to a long term objective.

[FrodosPet]

14. They won't be under 30 forever

Time has a funny way of making people older.

[LonePirate]

16. Fortunately their views on guns appear to be as steadfast as their views on LGBTQ rights.

At least among the ones I talk to and the ones voicing their opinions on social media. Ending America's deadly addiction to its gun culture starts with them.

[melm00se]

17. yet it's ok for you

to use present day statistics to argue for an action which is decades away.

today's attitudes of millennials may very well change by your highly speculative 2050.

[LonePirate]

18. The long term national TREND is reduced gun ownership rates. I don't think that is in dispute.

I have no reason to think that trend is suddenly going to reverse itself if the past several decades are any indication. To maintain your view, someone needs to believe that trend stops when there is no evidence to support that belief. If you follow trends to their long term positions, you eventually reach a point in time where repeal of the antiquated 2A becomes possible, if not likely. Cling to the 2A all you want but the trend to an eventual repeal is ongoing, even if you pass on before that day arrives.

[GGJohn]

8. You're free to try to get the congress to amend the constitution.

[libpride_15]

15. Equal Rights Amendment never passed...

... but most of it has been adopted "in principle" by the definitions of persons over time.

If the effort to repeal the second amendment could result in the NRA being whittled down, that alone would be worth the effort.

As with many things, the money generated by gun and ammo sales will always give clout to those who want to continue this menace.

They must be fought tooth and nail, not accepted as if nothing can be done.

2nd Amendment, as currently constructed, has outlived its usefulness.