But Gun Owners of America Executive Director Larry Pratt says the state has every right to restrict conceal and carry permits to citizens.
"If the guy wants to enjoy the full benefit of residing in the United States become a citizen. He’s been here for 30 years what’s he waiting for?," Pratt told FoxNews.com. [More]
Sorry, Larry.
I support you more than most, but I disagree with you here.
Just not with as much bitchy, hate-filled glee as is being exhibited in some quarters.
I don't want illegal immigrants carrying or owning guns either.
ReplyDeletegee, don't we regularly assert "citizens" under some tinpot dictator in a foreign country have the rights we've made constitutional rights? and then go invade that country? (the premise isn't entirely unreasonable, although i resent being taxed for it -- go cowboying around on your own damn dime.)
ReplyDeleteso at just what point does the human right to self-defense end? do they have to be foreign-born, in a foreign place, and, what, muslim or something? just what does it take to violate the golden rule? i rather expect larry is being misconstrued here.
I think of the biological classification tree. Kindom, Order, Class, Phylum, Genus, Species, whatever.
ReplyDeleteThere are 300 million U.S. residents. A subset of those -- about 240 million -- are citizens. A subset of those are LAW-ABIDING citizens. A subset of THOSE are law-abiding citizens who happen to live in places where gun rights are MINIMALLY infringed. How far should we split this hair, Mr. Pratt, as our opposition tries to scalp us?
There's no way to violate the individual human rights of "those people" without violating the individual human rights of everyone. I won't play that game.
ReplyDeleteAnd, nowhere in the Constitution does it imply that these basic human rights only apply to "American citizens". Nowhere. If you are human, you have the exact same human rights as any other human (even though your local tyrants may violate those rights).
Strange. I thought that GOA was the anti-NRA.
ReplyDelete"I don't want illegal immigrants carrying or owning guns either."
ReplyDeleteIs that supposed to be irony? They can get a gun quicker and cheaper than you can, and no taxes, fees, or permit!
Well called out David. And kudos to you Kent, you said all that needed to be said on this matter.
ReplyDeleteEither it's a unalienable right, inherent to the state of being a human being, or it's candy dispensed to those that are in the club.
I am a Life Member of GOA, and have the highest respect for Larry Pratt. The Bill of Rights does not list the rights the government gives us. It lists the rights we possess naturally, without any need for government's permission. Nor, as other have pointed out, does it state that only citizens may possess these rights. If they are natural, G-d given, then they exist regardless of nationality.
ReplyDeleteI don't like the idea of criminals having guns, but it is their right. Even a dirt-bag has the right to defend himself effectively, or to defend his family. Illegal aliens are criminals. But I see no benefit to depriving them of _their_ right to protect themselves or family.
Bad guys will get guns in spite of any and all laws. Let's not set ourselves up for further gun control by depriving a subset of people in this country of their rights, or we will become the next subset ourselves.
You can believe in an inalienable right to keep and bear arms and still believe that the Federal Gov't can not use the Federal Bill of Rights to limit state sovereignty. Let the people of the state fight their battles with the gov't over which they have the most power- they have their own Bill of Rights too. The US Bill of Rights consists of limitations on the Fed.
ReplyDelete