The gun lobby: fair-weather federalists

[ellisonz]

Lobby is an enemy of state and local government, yet some of the most fervent supporters of its Big Government encroachments oppose health care law on 'federalism' principles.
By Jonathan Lowy
The National Law Journal
April 30, 2012

As the U.S. Supreme Court heard historic arguments against President Obama's health care legislation last month, the courtroom was filled with high-minded talk about the pressing need to rein in the ever growing powers of the federal government to protect individual rights and state autonomy. Delivered convincingly, one might have believed that these opponents of "Obamacare" are principled federalists, who stand up for states' rights whenever they are violated.

Don't believe it. The gun lobby may be the greatest enemy of state and local government in politics today, and some of the most fervent supporters of their Big Government encroachments oppose health care on "federalism principles." After supporting the gun lobby's evisceration of state and local authority, these fair-weather federalists are shocked, shocked, that gambling is taking place in their casino.

A case in point. The gun lobby's "National Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act," recently introduced in the U.S. Senate, would deprive states of their long-standing police-power authority to decide who can carry loaded guns on their streets and other public places. New York, for example, greatly restricts the carrying of loaded guns in public — a major reason the city has so effectively reduced crime in recent years.

More: From the National Law Journal

[rl6214]

1. You have a point to make or is it just time for your daily google dump?

OOOOH, I see now, seriously, Brady Center Legal Action Project director Jonathan Lowy as a source? That's about as good as posting an opinion piece written by the NRAs La Pierre or Nugent as a 'source'.

Give me a break

[ellisonz]

2. A poop on your house!

[oneshooter]

4. More"civil discourse" from the gun grabbers.

[Glaug-Eldare]

3. Fair enough point in my case

I favor Annapolis over Washington, but Maryland is one of the few states that doesn't have its own RKBA provision in its Constitution. (Incidentally, RKBA was debated and rejected for fear it would grant gun rights to black Marylanders) I'd like to change that, but for now, we've got to lean quite heavily on the federal 2A. Oh, well...

[ProgressiveProfessor]

6. Have a source for that?

It is yet another excellent example of the racist roots of gun control

[Hoyt]

9. Yes, and why we should ban/restrict them for ALL in public -- regardless of creed, race, etc.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

17. Not going to happen

and may all your dreams become nightmares in this area

[Glaug-Eldare]

11. Not a lot, but here's what I've found so far

Proceedings and Debates of the 1867 Constitutional Convention, Vol. 1, Debates 151
Proceedings and Debates of the 1867 Constitutional Convention, Vol. 1, Debates 152

Unfortunately, it omits almost the entirety of the deliberation.

A bit more elaboration in this book:

Freedmen, the Fourteenth Amendment, and the Right to Bear Arms, 1866-1876

[ProgressiveProfessor]

16. Thanks

[GreenStormCloud]

5. The NRA takes no position on Obamacare.

When states abuse a power it needs to be taken away from them. May-issue states have repeatedly allowed the CCW permits to go to the wealthy and well-connect and shut the common person out. They have refused to recognize out-of-state permits in violation of the full faith and credit clause of the Constitution. National CCW reciprocity is a cure for state abuse.

BTW - El Paso, TX which has Texas guns laws and more guns than people had only three murders in 2009, and a very low crime rate - much lower than NYC with its tight gun control.

[iverglas]

14. whoa, right over your head

Maybe you just didn't read even the excerpt posted ...

When states abuse a power it needs to be taken away from them.

That's about the funniest thing I've seen this week. You were actually serious, weren't you?

Kinda made somebody's point. Not yours, I fear ...

[GreenStormCloud]

15. Been done before. Voting Rights Act.

Certain states were using their powers to regulate voting to deny Blacks the right to vote. So they lost that power. Some states are abusing their gun control powers and will end up losing that power.

[ileus]

7. Human rights shouldn't change at a state boundry.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

8. A right is right unless too far to "the right".

I believe it's called a "doublé entendré" with the appropriate "accent egu"s. and any related diacritical markings of which I'm unaware.

My French is terrible.

[krispos42]

10. "...a major reason the city has so effectively reduced crime in recent years"

[Doctor_J]

12. This is typical of right wingers

They want the federal government off their backs, but if Vermont wants single-payer health care or California wants to strengthen emission regulations, they suddenly don't want "conflicting standards". Liars and hypocrites

[gejohnston]

13. typical of all ideologues

they are all liars and hypocrites. Describing SYG as "OK to chase down people and murder them" is a prime recent example.
The plutocrats at the US Chamber want government off their backs. I don't see the NRA saying anything about single-payer or California emission regulations. Meanwhile, the left is saying "some places should ignore incorporation in the BoR."