Thursday, May 11, 2017

Guard with Jealous Attention the Public Liberty

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"Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force."

Or at least preparedness and willingness to use it...

2 comments:

Henry said...

Apparently, this “Free Speech Rally” is being held in a Phony Gun-Free Zone (Boston Common). In my opinion, this is an error that lovers of liberty should consciously avoid committing whenever possible. Leave GFZs for the Brady Bunch rallies to cower inside.

Ed said...

Care to cite the MGL that prohibits possession of a firearm on Boston Common?

There are City of Boston Park regulations, which can result in a $50 fine and raise serious Constitutionality issues:

http://www.cityofboston.gov/Parks/rules.asp

The first regulation is one that sets the tone for the rest:

"SECTION 1. No person shall, in any public park (including any boundary road thereof), or other public place (including any parkway) under the control of the Parks and Recreation Commission:

(a) abuse or annoy another; ..."

That by itself can be annoying and potentially abusive.

"SECTION 6. No person shall, in any public park (including any boundary road thereof) or other public place (including any parkway) under the control of the Parks and Recreation Commission; unless under a lease or concession granted under Chapter 365 of the Acts of 1897, and unless a written permit be on their person or prominently displayed, engage in any commercial enterprise or solicit business or display or distribute any commercial advertising matter; nor shall any person, except in accordance with a written permit from the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, have or drive in or on any such park or place (or boundary road or parkway) any vehicle having a seating capacity of more than eight passengers."

Uh-oh. Those people who have three row seating in their mini-vans like a 1965 VW bus are going to face a $50 fine!

"SECTION 2. No person shall, in any public park (including any boundary road thereof), or other public place (including any parkway) under the control of the Parks and Recreation Commission, except under the auspices of public authority:
...
(i) throw any stone or other missile; or
...
(l) discharge any firearm or destructive weapon; or

(m) have in any such park or place, except a boundary road or parkway on which there are dwellings, any firearm or destructive weapon; or

(n) go on foot on any drive or bridle path except to go directly across from the walk to another; or

(o) sit, stand or lie upon lawn areas in the Public Garden except such lawn areas designated as sitting areas."

So, possession and/or discharge of a firearm is as serious an offense to the City of Boston as walking on the grass or a bridle path, yet those activities are not protected by the Second Amendment.