Bush Administration Reverses Ashcroft Interpretation of Second Amendment

I received an email reply to my inquiry about the FAA declaring the Second Amendment a "collective right" in their recently issued spaceflight security regulations.

Dear Mr. Codrea:

Thank you for your comments on the human space flight requirements. This rule, including its security requirements, underwent coordination and review within the executive branch. It was reviewed and approved by the Executive Office of the President.

Your comments will be placed in the docket.

Sincerely,

Laura Montgomery

Laura Montgomery
Senior Attorney
Office of the Chief Counsel
Federal Aviation Administration
(202) 267-3150

This is what I sent back:

Dear Ms. Montgomery,

Thank you for your reply. You did not say who in the executive branch signed off on the security requirements, but I must assume they would not authorize policy that conflicts with the chief executive's direction and approval. Just so I don't misconstrue the position you appear to have articulated, am I to understand that the president of the United States considers the Second Amendment to be a "collective right," and the "individual rights" opinion AG Ashcroft stated during his tenure is not the official position of the Bush administration? And who in the executive branch approved the requirements on behalf of the president?

Sincerely,
David Codrea

When John Ashcroft penned his "individual rights" opinion, it made headlines around the world. Terms like "sea change" were thrown about, and we were told how significant the opinion was for gun rights. The Bradys went nuts. 18 state attorneys general followed suit and drafted their own letter of concurrence. And this was used to tremendous advantage to convince gun owners to throw their support behind the Bush administration.

But now we have it from one of the top attorneys in that administration that the "collective rights" language "was reviewed and approved by the Executive Office of the President."

Ladies and gentlemen, most will not realize this, but this is news, and it is significant. But chances are, this insignificant blog is the only place where you will learn of it, which means most gun owners will not.

Proof that it's the Gun's Fault

Three members of an armed teenage gang who killed a woman as she cradled a baby at a christening party were illegal immigrants with a string of convictions.

And that's why we need to keep you from having a gun. See, it all makes sense now.

Diverting from the main topic, here's something else the "authorized journalists" do that has bugged me for a long time:

A 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was convicted of murder.

If I have a budding Jeffrey Dahmer living near me, or some twisted little emo who sets fire to kittens or molests pre-schoolers, I'd just as soon know about it, thank you very much. Crusading editors have no problems publishing names of CCW holders for "the public good", but seem to think the age of the monsters among us require some sort of special protection--"for the children."

Gun Buy-Back Could Reduce Violence

Sure it could.

And if "ifs" and "buts" were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas.

Unwholesome and Offensive

Not only will the sale of guns be prohibited in the village, but also within a mile of Addison...

Village attorney George Marchetti said a state statue allows any village to prevent guns from being sold within a mile of that town.

“I believe the village has the discretion to determine that firearm sales are an unwholesome and offensive business,” he said...

[Mayor Larry] Hartwig said he doesn’t believe in the sale of guns and wants to protect residents from dangerous weapons.

The village has a webpage where they invite citizens to "Ask Mayor Hartwig" questions for his monthly cable access show. I would, but the only things I can think to say are unwholesome and offensive.

[Via HZ]

More Neocon Kool-Aid, Please...

But if Giuliani can make those issues seem secondary to a broader defense of American civilization, he's got a chance to go all the way.

Not if activist gun owners sick and tired of "moderate" republican treason have anything to say about it. We might as well vote for Sarah Brady.

You idiots just lost both houses and it looks like the presidency will be a democrat slam dunk. Here's the way things are turning: Enough of us--the critical mass by which most elections are won or lost--aren't falling for the "lesser of two evils" fear tactics that have served GOP apologists so well for all these years. The hell with that and the hell with you.

We don't get what we want, you don't get what you want. We'll just have to hold on and defy any new bans. There aren't enough JBTs to come after all of us, and if it's tried, my bet is the frog will finally jump. I think those who have been maintaining the illusion that they are in control fear that--or will learn to.

Sanctioned "dissenters" like Jonah Goldberg being passed off as voices of conservatism is one of the great frauds perpetrated by the "authorized journalists." That and NRA being extremist and unyielding on the Second Amendment.

This Day in History: December 22

On Friday, December 22, 1775, the Continental Congress creates a Continental Navy, naming Esek Hopkins, Esq., as commander in chief of the fleet.