I just joined the ACLU.

[DelayedReaction]

So I was switching through the channels when I saw Bill O'Reilly perform the bullet points segment on his show. According to him, the ACLU is a dangerous organization composed entirely of traitors. I had put some thought into whether or not I would join the ACLU (I already joined the NRA), and after looking it up a bit I decided it was worth doing.

I don't agree with every policy the ACLU has, particularly their stance on affirmative action, illegal immigration, and anti-hate laws. The death penalty I'm wavering on, but many of their policies are things I agree with. The separation of Church and State (I am a Christian), freedom of speech, drug reform, privacy, and several other aspects of person freedoms are things that both the ACLU and I agree on. I don't particularly like their silence on the issue of gun rights, but even with that taken into account I think they do more good than harm.

So I joined. Within the next few days my wallet will simultaneously contain membership cards from the ACLU and the NRA. I hope it doesn't catch fire.

 

[Kurt_M]

Only you can make that choice for yourself. FWIW it sounds like you made a rational, well-informed choice. Not one I agree with by any means, but respectable nonetheless.

 

[GoRon]

You also get the benefit of helping to defend NAMBLA

 

[rick_reno]

Hey - it's your money to spend the way you want. Let us know which group you get more requests for money from.

 

[cbsbyte]

Here is there take on the 2nd Ad. They believe in a collective right to own guns. Only the Government can own guns.

http://www.aclu.org/police/gen/14523res20020304.html?ht=handguns handguns

 

[DelayedReaction]

Your point is....?

Here is there take on the 2nd Ad. They believe in a collective right to own guns.

http://www.aclu.org/police/gen/14523res20020304.html?ht=handguns handguns

Honestly I think that's just a cop-out to ensure their primarily-liberal supporters don't go nuts. If the Supreme Court established a position affirming the individual right to keep and bear arms, I think we'd see the ACLU start opposing gun control more forcefully. For the moment the fact that they don't support gun control, coupled with their views on several areas I agree with, made me decide to join them.

They most certainly do not say that only the government can own guns.

Yeah, I definitely will start comparing their begging drives. The NRA has really impressed me with their ability to plead for money.

 

[shermacman]

Don't worry, your wallet will not catch fire.
There are plenty of people who are walking contradictions. They never get their butt's scorched.
They should...it just doesn't happen.

Actually, anyone who thinks their wallet will catch fire because of poor thought processes was never a teenager with a two year old condom stuck together in hopes...

 

[longeyes]

They went off the tracks a number of years ago. They say they defend the Bill of Rights--except for that, well, pesky Second.

Check out Roger Baldwin, the ACLU founder. You might find his background interesting. Here's one of his quotes:

"I am for socialism, disarmament, and, ultimately, for abolishing the state itself... I seek the social ownership of property, the abolition of the propertied class, and the sole control of those who produce wealth. Communism is the goal."

 

[Gordon Fink]

Communism (anarchy) is a noble, if unreachable goal. Unfortunately, too many would-be communists think that they can get there through socialism (statism).

I think ACLU membership would make a good complement to NRA membership. The NRA picks up where the ACLU leaves off. The duality will also confound those “liberals.”

~G. Fink

 

[longhorngunman]

Sleep well knowing that your money helps protect child molesters.

 

[Black92LX]

My problem with the ACLU is that they don't know how to read.

We have the freedom OF religion not the freedom FROM religion.

They have taken seperation of church and state WAY to far. Seperation of Church and state does not mean the government can't contribute. It means they can't establish one religion.
Contributing to a religion does not establish it. Plus the government gives to many different religion.

 

[Standing Wolf]

Join an organization founded by a communist? Not me.

 

[hso]

I was a member of the ACLU before I joined the NRA and pay my dues to both. I consider the ACLU wrong on the 2nd being a collective instead of an individual right, but I also disagree with many of the NRA's positions when they get off of the 2nd.

If enough classical liberals would join the ACLU and suport the position change on the 2nd the ACLU would finally fill a huge gap in it's defense of the constitution and bill of rights.

 

[DelayedReaction]

Sleep well knowing that your money helps protect child molesters.

http://www.nostatusquo.com/ACLU/Rage/NAMBLARAGEPAGE.html

While I personally find NAMBLA to be sick, the ACLU isn't interested in protecting child pornography (as they have stated). In that case they were protecting the First Amendment and privacy rights of the groups.

Harvey Silverglate, an ACLU board member, said Wednesday that the group's attorneys will try to block any attempt by the Curleys to get NAMBLA's membership lists, or other materials identifying members.

If someone is found to be molesting a child, possessing child pornography, or having sex with a minor, then they deserve to be jailed and imprisoned. But affiliation with a group does not make you a criminal. That would be like a prosecuting attorney obtaining NRA membership records as a result of a suspect visiting the NRA website (or taking an NRA-approved safety course) before shooting someone.

 

[Telperion]

As an alternative, consider the Institute for Justice. They recently represented the home owners in the Kelo v. New London case.

 

[Lupinus]

I believe when they were founded they had good intentions. But you know what they say about the path built by good intentions. In my opinion they have become anti american, fundamentalist, and completly of track. Now I don't think that all their members are that way by any means. But you wont find me being a card carrying member of the ACLU anytime soon.

 

[c_yeager]

Sleep well knowing that your money helps protect child molesters.

How many of your personal freedoms are you willing to give up to make sure every single child molester is in prison?

 

[cbsbyte]

Honestly I think that's just a cop-out to ensure their primarily-liberal supporters don't go nuts. For the moment the fact that they don't support gun control, coupled with their views on several areas I agree with, made me decide to join them.

They most certainly do not say that only the government can own guns.

Yeah, I definitely will start comparing their begging drives. The NRA has really impressed me with their ability to plead for money.

The ACLU only supports the rights of people or groups they argree with politicaly. I have read through there entire website and have yet to read where they even taken a case on the 2nd Amendment, even if they disagree with it. You state they don't agree with pedofiles but they represented NAMBLA in the courts. But they won't represent a person who loss their 2nd Amendment rights? One can not pick and choose supporting trights under Constitution. You either support them all or don't. The ACLU seems to make a habit of doing the latter.

"If the Supreme Court established a position affirming the individual right to keep and bear arms, I think we'd see the ACLU start opposing gun control more forcefully. "

I wanted to add that the ACLU still believes Death penalty is Unconstitional even though the Supreme Court has ruled it constitutional in 1976. So I doubt they would support the 2nd Admendment even if the Supreme court ruled in it favor.

 

[Marty Hayes]

While I am not a member of the ACLU, I support their viewpoints on many issues, and have long thought that if enough gun owners joined, they would change their viewpoint regarding the 2nd amend.

 

[Black92LX]

http://www.nostatusquo.com/ACLU/Rage/NAMBLARAGEPAGE.html

While I personally find NAMBLA to be sick, the ACLU isn't interested in protecting child pornography (as they have stated). In that case they were protecting the First Amendment and privacy rights of the groups.



If someone is found to be molesting a child, possessing child pornography, or having sex with a minor, then they deserve to be jailed and imprisoned. But affiliation with a group does not make you a criminal. That would be like a prosecuting attorney obtaining NRA membership records as a result of a suspect visiting the NRA website (or taking an NRA-approved safety course) before shooting someone.

The two aren't even comparable!
NAMBLA advocates CHILD MOLESTATION no matter how you look at it!
The NRA does not in any way shape or for condone the illegal use of firearms.

In no way can the two be compared!

 

[Kurush]

I'm an ACLU member too. I've written them nasty letters a few times and I end up holding my nose almost every time I get their newsletter but nobody else is fighting the patriot act half as effectively as they are.

 

[boofus]

Well hang onto your guns and don't let them know you have any. Because you're gonna need em when your ACLU buddies come for mine.

 

[Malone LaVeigh]

I have read through there entire website and have yet to read where they even taken a case on the 2nd Amendment, even if they disagree with it.

A year or 2 ago, someone on this board or TFL (I forget which) made a similar statement. I did a quick google search and in about 1 minute had found a case of a state ACLU organization defending someone on 2nd Amendment grounds. I'm not going to bother searching for it again.

 

[GoRon]

We believe that the constitutional right to bear arms is primarily a collective one, intended mainly to protect the right of the states to maintain militias to assure their own freedom and security against the central government. In today's world, that idea is somewhat anachronistic and in any case would require weapons much more powerful than handguns or hunting rifles. The ACLU therefore believes that the Second Amendment does not confer an unlimited right upon individuals to own guns or other weapons nor does it prohibit reasonable regulation of gun ownership, such as licensing and registration.

LINK

Read what they say about the second amendment themselves.

ACLU POLICY
"The ACLU agrees with the Supreme Court's long-standing interpretation of the Second Amendment [as set forth in the 1939 case, U.S. v. Miller] that the individual's right to bear arms applies only to the preservation or efficiency of a well-regulated militia. Except for lawful police and military purposes, the possession of weapons by individuals is not constitutionally protected. Therefore, there is no constitutional impediment to the regulation of firearms." --Policy #47

 

[fourays2]

While I am not a member of the ACLU, I support their viewpoints on many issues, and have long thought that if enough gun owners joined, they would change their viewpoint regarding the 2nd amend.

follow the money, george soros would have to leave the aclu first.