Vice President Signs Supreme Court Brief Pushing for End to D.C. Firearms Ban

[funnybone]

Vice President Signs Supreme Court Brief Pushing for End to D.C. Firearms Ban
Saturday , February 09, 2008


WASHINGTON —

Vice President Cheney took the unusual step Friday of joining with lawmakers in signing a Supreme Court brief that goes further in support of gun rights than the one submitted by the Bush administration.

The filings were made in a case that challenges the District of Columbia's ban on handguns. It was scheduled to be argued on March 18.

Both briefs argue that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to own guns. However, the administration contends that too categorical a ruling could threaten other federal gun restrictions and wants the justices to send the case back to lower courts without deciding whether the handgun ban should fall.

Cheney joined more than 300 senators and representatives, led by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, who want the court to rule that Washington's ban is unconstitutional.

"The vice president believes strongly in Second Amendment rights," Cheney spokeswoman Megan Mitchell said.

Seventeen Democratic lawmakers and District of Columbia Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton urged the court to uphold the ban.

Lawyers with long experience at the court could not recall another case in which a vice president took a position different from that of his own administration.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,330171,00.html

 

[JWF III]

Politcis be dang, that is saying "I'm out of office in 11 months and I don't care who I piss off". What's right is right.

 

[kir_kenix]

i think this is a very good step. the washington gun ban IS unconstitutional, and im glad some ppl are standing up and saying so. hopefully this will gain some more momentum and the ban in dc and elsewhere will be lifted.

go dick cheney! he might be a creepy old man, but hes deff right on this topic.

 

[cedjunior]

However, the administration contends that too categorical a ruling could threaten other federal gun restrictions

Thats completely unnecessary though. If the courts ruling effect federal gun laws, too bad.

 

[AKCOP]

Dick Cheney is not a creepy old man, he is a true friend to shooters, hunters and the 2nd amendment. No jokes about his bird hunting OK, it could have happened to any of us. Well at least some of us.

 

[Lashlarue]

Besides that accident shouldn't count against him, as he shot a LAWYER!

 

[Rachen]

Dick Cheney is not a creepy old man, he is a true friend to shooters, hunters and the 2nd amendment. No jokes about his bird hunting OK, it could have happened to any of us. Well at least some of us.

You are absolutely right AKCOP. We all have our share of accidents, and the whole thing with Cheney is really not that funny or sensationalistic at all. However, the media wants us, or the people rather, to believe that thats how gun owners are.

Some of us may have rather stupid incidents when we were younger. I still remember the time I was trying to have some fun setting off .45 ACP rounds with a hammer when I was 12. Well it might be fun, but after just one round, I knew I might not want to do that again I was unscratched by the way.

 

[jlbraun]

Well. After 7 years I'm glad we got something good out of him.

 

[elrod]

Cheney joined more than 300 senators and representatives, led by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson, R Texas, who want the court to rule that Washington's ban is unconstitutional.

Letssee here now, 435 representatives + 100 senators= 535 total, right? Divided by 300= 69% of congress (seemingly) pro-gun. This, in and of itself, makes me feel better! If my logic is sound, then we may be better off than I first feared.

 

[thorn726]

seeing how most of the world DOES view Cheney as a creepy old ROBOT (man is a stretch)
-this part - more than 300 senators and representatives, led by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, who want the court to rule that Washington's ban is unconstitutional.

i like. looks like we have a "shot" here (ha)

 

[Doug S]

I've always enjoyed listening to Cheney. He is articulate, and intelligent. Most of America tends to listen to mainstream media types saying otherwise, though. Should show us how "creepy", and "dumb" most of Middle America has become.

 

[Fly320s]

Anyone have a link to the brief?

Better yet, any of you lawyerly-types want review the brief and post the highlights?

I'd like to know if this latest brief has "reasonable restrictions" in it.

 

[silverlance]

Dick is a guy that reminds one of the 1880s railroad octopuses, but this is a heroic move of his, especially after having ND'ed into his hunting partner's face.

 

[LKB3rd]

Quote:
However, the administration contends that too categorical a ruling could threaten other federal gun restrictions

Thats completely unnecessary though. If the courts ruling effect federal gun laws, too bad.

Before we all get into a love fest with big Dick this is something that needs to be pointed out..
It appears as if they are afraid that the Supreme Court will finally rule on the simple, clear wording of the second amendment in the favor of our rights, and want to keep it in the lower courts instead of letting it be clarified once and for all by the SC.
So, while they are all saying they think the D.C. ban is unconstitutional, they are apprently not willing to let it go to the SC, so they can continue to lovingly dole out our god given right as they see fit.

 

[rugerman07]

Well, here's one thing Dick Cheney and I agree on.

 

[romma]

Well like I posted over in the Dup thread that I saw before this one!

In your face Washington!!

 

[doc2rn]

Dang they must be scared of somethin to be all in a tizzy. Maybe we can finally get-r-done and do away with BATFE.

 

[Nomad101bc]

Anyone think Cheney might be having presidential ambitions? Its unprecedented for one of George Bush's personel to go around his head.

 

[jakemccoy]

I'm impressed and now have a better opinion of the man.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

I think all this pro-gun activity at the federal level owes to the threat level felt by the average guy when the DC ban came to light. Mobilizing the gun community is what probably spurred this action.
And, the good job done by 2A advocates with regard to getting this issue out there is what got all those people stirred up and off their butts.

Good job Washington? Good job 2A community.

 

[AndyC]

I emailed my local congressman my thanks for signing it - well, he's not really my congressman as I'm not yet a citizen, but still I felt he deserved a thank-you.

 

[230RN]

Anyone know how one goes about filing a brief? I woke up one morning thinking if every one of us filed one...

Then I had a cup of coffee.

 

[ROMAK IV]

There is nothing wrong with Cheney, and he IS a great American, and the hype about him is false. Cheney hunts often with Scalea and is far more dedicated to the 2nd Amendment than Bush ever was. That aside, I am proud of Cheney going against his own administration. Another great man and defender of the 2nd Amendment was John Ashcroft. While he didn't do anything like this, he used the Emerson case to change the Judicial Branch's interpretation of the 2nd Amendment as an individual right, apparantly Gonzales or the current AG, whatever his name is, has changed it back. Whatever your political affiliation, you can honor men like this who stand up for our rights.

 

[bloodedsky]

The man is so corrupt, I wonder what ulterior motive lurks up his sleeve. It's like caring for old Aunt Alice so that she will bequeath her mansion and toy poodle to you in her as yet unfinished will.

Doing a good deed does not make you a good person. This does not absolve the man from his direct responsibility in bringing Iraq to its knees. He will always be a murderer.

 

[jungleroy]

bloodedsky,
You may have forgotten the words, " In my opinion "
Either way, not very high road of you.
The burden of proof, please.
These things are my opinion of course, take them how you will.
I have no problem with someone voting in favor of personal freedom.