Justice Stevens needs a new researcher

[Wa shooter]

In dissent, Justice John Paul Stevens wrote that the majority "would have us believe that over 200 years ago, the Framers made a choice to limit the tools available to elected officials wishing to regulate civilian uses of weapons." (bolding mine)

PATRICK HENRY

"The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun."

"Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the difference between having our arms in possession and under our direction, and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?"

March 23, 1775:

TENCHE COXE

"Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man gainst his own bosom. Congress have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American...[T]he unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people."

Tenche Coxe, The Pennsylvania Gazette, Feb. 20, 1788.

NOAH WEBSTER

"Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretence, raised in the United States. A military force, at the command of Congress, can execute no laws, but such as the people perceive to be just and constitutional; for they will possess the power, and jealousy will instantly inspire the inclination, to resist the execution of a law which appears to them unjust and oppressive."

Noah Webster, An Examination of the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution (Philadelphia 1787)



It only took a few minutes to find quotes that support the idea that the framers indeed wanted to keep the government from regulating firearms. Why is the reason and importance for the second so difficult for people to understand?

 

[Cougfan2]

You are asking Stevens to be intellectually honest; something of which he is apparently incapable.

 

[74 Highboy]

Justice Stevens Logic ??

Justice John Paul Stevens wrote that the majority "would have us believe that over 200 years ago, the Framers made a choice to limit the tools available to elected officials wishing to regulate civilian uses of weapons."

Logically this opinion must also apply to the first amendment as well?? Substitute anything in the first amendment after "elected officials wishing to regulate".

 

[Burt Blade]

The Constitution itself is a limit on Government. The Bill of Rights is an additional limit on government encroachment on Rights.

The founders _explicity_ were limiting the government.

 

[Cacique500]

I think the most interesting thing I learned out of this decision was how messed up the court is. I rarely pay attention to most of what they do, but reading through the dissenting opinion was a real eye opener.

If they're that FAR OFF on a very clearly stated Amendment, how messed up are the rest of their decisions?

 

[Henry Bowman]

You are asking Stevens to be intellectually honest; something of which he is apparently incapable.

I honestly thought there was at least a small chance he would be. I thought there was a large chance that Ginsberg would be, however. But it was not to be.

 

[Z-Michigan]

I've generally had a lot of respect for J. Stevens as a pragmatic and previously, in my view, intellectually honest jurist. Unfortunately he is so far wrong on this point that I think the time is well past due for him to retire. His quoted statement is just absurd, like something out of an Orwellian novel.

 

[Glockman17366]

The Supreme Court decision and Daley's opinion (Fenty and others as well) of it are indicative of the Founder's reasoning behind the 2nd Amendment...that we have parity with the firearms available to the government (which means citizens gain, and government is to be extremely limited as to what they can hold (as far as firearms).

 

[skua44]

A real shame ( and scary) that 4 members of SCOTUS interpret "shall not be infringed" to mean "may be infringed, will-nilly, by gov't". The BOR does not "give" us any rights. It recognizes, acknowledges and affirms that there are God-given inalienable rights that the gov't cannot hijack and that these rights were in place when the BOR was put into writing. That 4 members of SCOTUS don't get that is very unsettling.

 

[workingstiff]

Source

Sounds good, but did you validate your quote sources, or are you just cutting and pasting from other internet posts?

 

[MAKster]

Stevens argument was an embarrassment. The entire reason for the existence of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights is to limit the power of the central government.

 

[Standing Wolf]

The Constitution itself is a limit on Government. The Bill of Rights is an additional limit on government encroachment on Rights.

Think of them as restraining orders.

 

[Huddog]

Fellow members it has long been the practise of Justices of any court to try to make precedent and legal writings say what they want it to say. Stevens was doing nothing that many others have not done in that he was trying to make it match his opinion of what the law should mean. He fears the people having power and clearly believes in government being the end all be all. Oh wait, that's right he is a Liberal.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

This guy was actually appointed by a Republican!?! He's nothing more than a liar; either that or he's too stupid to survive the 3rd grade. Just unbelievable! Curse you Gerald Ford!

 

[dansalcedo]

I've been on the board for a few months, but this is my first post. I've had a handgun for almost 30 years and just recently bought a few rifles. I've always voted democratic, but I'm not doing that this year. I can't believe how 4 justices can be so far off base as to what our forefathers were trying to achieve when they wrote the Constitution and the BOR.

 

[feedthehogs]

intellectually honest

Politicaly biased trumps intellectually honest.

Our courts are supposed to be neutral, right?

 

[lamazza]

Remember the Bill of Rights was designed to RESTRICT THE GOVERNMENT… NOT WE THE PEOPLE!

 

[Caimlas]

In other news, Stevens is a poor quality lawyer and SC judge who has willfully ignored his oath to the Constitution and job description in favor of political partisanship and seditious behavior. More at 11.

 

[Jdude]

Withdrawn