Comments on: Shoot First, Ask Questions Later

By: Aydin

Aydin — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:20:05 +0000

Hi im not from USA but i liked the picture have fun because guns are not allowed here.

By: martymankins

martymankins — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 16:43:13 +0000

finn – I’m all for states rights on what kind of restrictions or permissions that apply locally for gun use, but as you said, we can’t pick and choose. The 2nd amendment does grant basic rights of gun ownership. As I said in my post, I’ve not researched this enough to form an opinion.

avitable – I would be concerned if this ruling also started affecting other adult activities like strip clubs and the like.

ren – Ha! Nope, won’t be an iPhone 4 owner anytime soon.

kevin – I understand your thoughts, especially seeing how much and what you can purchase here in the US when it comes to firearms. I would hate to see this ruling add more fuel to to the debate of banning more powerful firearms (Bush let the ban on assault rifles lapse, which IMO, needs to be reinstated).

kapgar – I think the concern here is that too many state and local gun rights may be too strict, which I can see being an issue. Perhaps a basic ownership and registration nationwide, with states controlling what types of guns. Although, again, that’s a concern if say one state allow assault rifles but another does not and the person that owns one moves to that state that bans them.

dave2 – Being consistent on these rules and laws is what I’m hoping for. Confusion only add more fuel to the fire.

sybil law – I’ve never had an interest in owning a gun or firearm, but if I lived in an area where I felt I needed one for protection, and it made me feel more secure, I’d certainly be open to having one and getting properly trained in the use of it.

By: Sybil Law

Sybil Law — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 01:43:59 +0000

It worries me, for sure. I am all for people legally and smartly owning guns. In fact, I am really thinking of buying one, myself. Of course, I’ve said that for years, now…

By: Dave2

Dave2 — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:28:06 +0000

And that pretty much sums up Americans’ take on politics: people like something when it benefits their ideals and hate something when it’s detrimental to their ideals… even if the underlaying concepts are completely the same. And though it may seem logic-free on the surface, I take comfort in the thought that it’s at least consistent!

By: kapgar

kapgar — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 00:13:43 +0000

It’s hard to know what to think of decisions like this as they are made and passed down to be enforced at the local or state level. But, many times, I feel that the federal legislators rarely understand the needs of the states they supposedly represent. If we were a smaller country, I can understand more Federal control. But we are such a large and diverse and spread out country that you almost need to deal with us on a state-by-state basis or, at the very least, a regional level.

By: Kevin Spencer

Kevin Spencer — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 22:55:21 +0000

I find the whole gun ownership issue rather weird to be honest. But then again I grew up in a country where you’re not allowed to own guns so it’s not really part of my nature.

I do understand that Americans have a right to own weaponry but still, after living in the USA for the last 13 years, walking into a shop and being able to purchase something like this just boggles my mind.

When my Mum & Dad were over from England a few months back I took my Dad to that shop. It blew his mind. “People are allowed to buy those then?” he asked me in a state of disbelief. “Welcome to America” I replied

By: Ren

Ren — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 21:18:15 +0000

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down there bud. You glossed over the most important part of this…

*Are* you getting the new iPhone 4?!

By: Avitable

Avitable — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:43:40 +0000

I think that the rule has always been that the states can make things stricter than the federal government, but not more lenient. By doing this, the Supreme Court is bringing into question a lot of different areas. By the same logic, the Supreme Court could use the 1st Amendment to prevent states from enacting bans on adult venues, sodomy, etc. This is a slippery slope.

By: Finn

Finn — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:18:39 +0000

I don’t know how I feel about this either. I think that sometimes people miss the point of the 2nd Amendment (a point which is reiterated by Justice Stevens in the article you referenced) and feel that controls on owning deadly weapons are never justified. On the other hand, law-abiding citizens should be able to defend themselves. I don’t think requiring education, responsiblity and licensing restricts most people’s ability to own a gun if they want one.

As far as the state’s rights question, it seems to me we have to decide whether states govern themselves or the federal goverment rules all, then follow it across the board. We can’t just pick and choose.

By: martymankins

martymankins — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:07:59 +0000

earl – Good question. The case was brought forth based on gun restrictions, but if I am reading the details of the ruling and opinion correctly, it is rights that they are affirming.

By: B.E. Earl

B.E. Earl — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:02:26 +0000

Quick question: Since the ruling reaffirms 2nd Amendment rights in cities and states, doesn’t it effectively remove local gun restrictions rather than local gun rights? Or am I not understanding this correctly?