2008 has become one of the most interesting and historic years in American history.
1. The end of an administration that has seen us through the September 11th terrorist attack, war in Afghanistan, war in Iraq, and Hurricane Katrina.
2. For the first time in our history, the Supreme Court has issued an opinion directly relating to whether the Second Amendment deals with an individual or collective right, and whether the government has the right to ban individual ownership of firearms (handguns in particular).
In a predictably narrow (five to four) majority, the Court has held that the Second Amendment affirms an individual right to own firearms, and that the government may not infringe upon that right to the extent of banning handguns within its jurisdiction (District of Columbia).
3. The future Second Amendment cases before the Supreme Court and incorporation of that right to the states. The handgun bans in Chicago and San Francisco will be the first of several Second Amendment cases to reach the Supreme Court after Heller.
A quote from Heller:
As distasteful as it may be to inject politics into such an historical year such as this, is is further worth noting, to give credit where credit is due, that without President Bush's nomination and support of Justices Roberts and Alito to the Supreme Court, the outcome of Heller might have been very different. A change of ONE vote on the Court would have enshrined the extremist D.C. gun ban as a model to be followed across the country, and the rights of all law-abiding citizens would have suffered immeasurably as a result. Like him, love him or hate him, Heller will stand as a prime example of President Bush's legacy. Imagine what a "Gore Court", "Kerry Court", or "Obama Court" might have ruled.
This is a simple plan for activism. Get your friends and family out to vote. Like him or not, John McCain is a better choice to nominate Supreme Court justices than Obama.
Even if you do not vote for McCain the importance of voting cannot be understated.
1. The end of an administration that has seen us through the September 11th terrorist attack, war in Afghanistan, war in Iraq, and Hurricane Katrina.
2. For the first time in our history, the Supreme Court has issued an opinion directly relating to whether the Second Amendment deals with an individual or collective right, and whether the government has the right to ban individual ownership of firearms (handguns in particular).
In a predictably narrow (five to four) majority, the Court has held that the Second Amendment affirms an individual right to own firearms, and that the government may not infringe upon that right to the extent of banning handguns within its jurisdiction (District of Columbia).
3. The future Second Amendment cases before the Supreme Court and incorporation of that right to the states. The handgun bans in Chicago and San Francisco will be the first of several Second Amendment cases to reach the Supreme Court after Heller.
A quote from Heller:
As distasteful as it may be to inject politics into such an historical year such as this, is is further worth noting, to give credit where credit is due, that without President Bush's nomination and support of Justices Roberts and Alito to the Supreme Court, the outcome of Heller might have been very different. A change of ONE vote on the Court would have enshrined the extremist D.C. gun ban as a model to be followed across the country, and the rights of all law-abiding citizens would have suffered immeasurably as a result. Like him, love him or hate him, Heller will stand as a prime example of President Bush's legacy. Imagine what a "Gore Court", "Kerry Court", or "Obama Court" might have ruled.
This is a simple plan for activism. Get your friends and family out to vote. Like him or not, John McCain is a better choice to nominate Supreme Court justices than Obama.
Even if you do not vote for McCain the importance of voting cannot be understated.
