Cheers to all who've read and forwarded.
barnetmill said:
It would be a better article if it covered also the recent arguements [sic] presented to SCOTUS in the DC case.
The diary was written last year, roughly two months
before the Heller opinion. The diary was reposted last month.
Notably, its reasoning WRT an individual rights interpretation closely tracks the reasoning in the Heller majority opinion. But Heller left open sooo many issues, e.g., incorporation, and, oh yeah, *** does "reasonable" mean?
Which is why the diary is that much more important.
The diary points out – to a group of people who self-identify with the terms "liberal" or "progressive" – that they tend to vociferously resist
any infringement of the First, the Fourth, the Fifth, the Sixth, and the Eighth Amendments, no matter how "reasonable" the proponents of restrictions claim them to be.
And that such people should therefore be just as suspicious of and just as resistant to whatever somebody proposes as a "reasonable" restriction on the Second.
Why Liberals Should Love the Second Amendment states:
We oppose restrictions to our civil liberties. All of our rights, even the ones enumerated in the Bill of Rights, are restricted. You can't shout "Fire!" in a crowd. You can't threaten to kill the president. You can't publish someone else's words as your own. We have copyright laws and libel laws and slander laws. We have the FCC to regulate our radio and television content. We have plenty of restrictions on our First Amendment rights.
But we don't like them. We fight them. Any card-carrying member of the ACLU will tell you that while we might agree that some restrictions are reasonable, we keep a close eye whenever anyone in government gets an itch to pass a new law that restricts our First Amendment rights. Or our Fourth. Or our Fifth, Sixth, or Eighth.
We complain about free speech zones. The whole country is supposed to be a free speech zone, after all. It says so right in the First Amendment.
But when it comes to the Second Amendment...You could hear a pin drop for all the protest you'll get from liberals when politicians talk about further restrictions on the manufacture, sale, or possession of firearms.
Suddenly, overly broad restrictions are "reasonable." The Washington D.C. ban on handguns -- all handguns -- is reasonable. (Later this year, the Supreme Court will quite likely issue an opinion to the contrary in the Heller case.)
Notably,
the ACLU has stated that it "disagrees" with the Heller opinion and suggests that it won't exactly be jumping at every opportunity to oppose the "reasonableness" of a proposed restriction. And it has taken a LOT of heat from many of its members. Maybe more of its members -- people who quite possibly aren't firearms owners -- would be critical of such position if they see the issue of the Second framed in a manner
consistent with the ACLU’s positions on the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Eighth. In other words, to direct the ACLU, regardless of whether it "agrees" with Heller's holding, to fight against every attempted "reasonable" restriction of the Second.
Look at the pleadings in Heller II (because it's in the District, the issue of incorporation is not addressed) -- the issues primarily address the "reasonableness" of the new and improved laws D.C. enacted after remand of Heller:
Heller v. D.C. II, Second Amended Complaint
Memorandum Of Points And Authorities In Support Of Plaintiffs’ Motion For Summary Judgment
Plaintiffs’ Opposition To Defendants’ Motion For Summary Judgment
Heller v. D.C. II, Reply Memorandum To Defendants’ Opposition To Plaintiff’s Motion For Summary Judgment
The diary calls out on the carpet people who oppose what government proponents claim are "reasonable" restrictions on the rights enumerated in the First, the Fourth, the Fifth, the Sixth, and the Eighth Amendments, and challenges those people to oppose with equal vigor what government proponents claim are "reasonable" restrictions on the Second.
Staunch defenders of the First Amendment will explain that they will fight for the rights of people to express political speech
even if the content of the speech is repugnant to the defenders themselves or even the public in general. Don't like guns? Fine. Don't want them in your house? Fine. Don't like the idea of private ownership of weapons that look scary? Fine.
The diary is a call to support the exercise of a right -- with as few restrictions as possible -- even if you personally don't like the right.
barnetmill said:
I am not sure if this is the best arguement [sic] to present to liberals.
I will happily make the time to read any argument you can find that you think would be more persuasive with an audience who expressly self-identify as being on the left.
barnetmill said:
But it is certainly a good start.
I agree; it is a good place to start.
barnetmill said:
But how to spead [sic] the message? You have true liberals that are interested in the truth and others (libertards)
NB: the Mod’s rules about pejoratives.
barnetmill said:
that do not want to be confused by facts. The place to start is likely locally in the democratic party by activism and not just sending emails.
I am in no way saying that local action isn’t essential. It is.
Standing on a soap box allows your voice to reach that many more people. Movable type that many more, broadcasting via old-style wireless (whatever bandwidths are licensed for radio and television), yet more.
But the internet has proven to be the great equalizer -- merit rules. That which is liked is further distributed. That which is not, is not.
30-Second Bunny Theater has passed one BILLION views.
The Best Page in the Universe has recorded millions of page views.
Admittedly, those are entertainment.
Then consider this: On September 19, 2009 a young woman with a web-cam posted a highly political video-blog entry titled
The Origin of Stupidity. I just checked, today, November 11, 2009, and it has had over one MILLION views. Please note, The Origin of Stupidity is highly critical of Ray Comfort, so if you're inclined to agree with Mr. Comfort be warned that you might find the video offensive.
Two months. One million page views. Impressive.