Intermarkets' Privacy Policy
Support


Donate to Ace of Spades HQ!



Recent Entries
Absent Friends
Bandersnatch 2024
GnuBreed 2024
Captain Hate 2023
moon_over_vermont 2023
westminsterdogshow 2023
Ann Wilson(Empire1) 2022
Dave In Texas 2022
Jesse in D.C. 2022
OregonMuse 2022
redc1c4 2021
Tami 2021
Chavez the Hugo 2020
Ibguy 2020
Rickl 2019
Joffen 2014
AoSHQ Writers Group
A site for members of the Horde to post their stories seeking beta readers, editing help, brainstorming, and story ideas. Also to share links to potential publishing outlets, writing help sites, and videos posting tips to get published. Contact OrangeEnt for info:
maildrop62 at proton dot me
Cutting The Cord And Email Security
Moron Meet-Ups





















« Sunday Morning Book Thread - 02-05-2023 ["Perfessor" Squirrel] | Main | First-World Problems... »
February 05, 2023

Criminal Justice And Guns: Should Felons Be Barred From Gun Ownership?

The Gun Control Act of 1968 has done tremendous damage to the freedoms we hold dear. It has created an unaccountable bureaucracy that has systematically chipped away at those freedoms, and has done very little to protect Americans from "gun violence," whatever that is!

Is there a legitimate government interest in controlling the possession of firearms? As a 2nd Amendment absolutist I say, "no." But as a rational observer of the human condition I will grant that in certain circumstances there may be societal demands that trump those freedoms. But that is the slippery slope that has led to "Red Flag" laws, which are stunningly anti-freedom and an affront to the concept of a free people's right to due process and a rational legal system.

The short answer is: Any loss of our freedoms must be preceded by all of the guarantees of a fair trial codified in the United States Constitution. If the government or your neighbor wants to take your guns? Go to trial.

But current U.S. law also mandates the loss of 2nd Amendment rights if (among other things) one is convicted of a felony, or a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence (Why misdemeanor domestic violence is as bad as a felony is a question for another day). Oh, and marijuana use is another one, even though it is legal for recreational use in many states!

Any functioning society must have a criminal justice system that imprisons lawbreakers. That is axiomatic. But inherent in that system must be clearly defined punishment. And if a felon serves his prison sentence and is released to rejoin society, then why are his 2nd Amendment rights curtailed? Are felons magically protected from violence and thus have no need for self defense? Obviously no. And all but six states restore their voting rights eventually. Are felons barred from exercising any other rights protected by the Constitution? Can they exercise their free speech rights? Are they safe from unreasonable search and seizure (after probation ends)? Must they house soldiers in wartime?

The obvious and sensible argument is that felons have demonstrated that they are willing to break significant laws, and that society has an interest in keeping them from access to weapons that might make their next forays into crime even worse than their original crimes.

But that is simply extending their incarceration past the legal penalty as decided by a jury. And it also assumes that citizens who possess weapons legally also commit crimes with them, which is a ridiculous assumption, and one that can be refuted with reams of data.

What's that? Am I going around in circles? Why yes...yes I am!

[Cross-posted at CutJibNewsletter.com]


digg this
posted by CBD at 12:00 PM

| Access Comments




Recent Comments
Ciampino - Si Ispettore, la droga: "Hi ..."

JackStraw: ">>Gotta give the Dems credit. Their vote fraud mac ..."

RickZ: "[i]Go back and look at the 2020 primary when not e ..."

RickZ: "[i]I'm still of the opinion that Kamala should dit ..."

JackStraw: ">>Someone used non-official White House 'stationar ..."

Dr. Bone: ">>>He basically said, 'You don't want me? Then you ..."

RickZ: "[i]I get where you're coming from (she's a absolut ..."

JackStraw: ">I believe Joe is only allowed to make decisions a ..."

Dr. Bone: ">>>Do you think it was Joe's decision to drop out? ..."

JackStraw: ">>I get where you're coming from (she's a absolute ..."

Dr. Bone: "When Kamala saw the fishbone diagram of my cock, s ..."

Ciampino - we don't need no stinking palis: "The Weather Channel sparks outrage with NYC subway ..."

Recent Entries
Search


Polls! Polls! Polls!
Frequently Asked Questions
The (Almost) Complete Paul Anka Integrity Kick
Top Top Tens
Greatest Hitjobs

The Ace of Spades HQ Sex-for-Money Skankathon
A D&D Guide to the Democratic Candidates
Margaret Cho: Just Not Funny
More Margaret Cho Abuse
Margaret Cho: Still Not Funny
Iraqi Prisoner Claims He Was Raped... By Woman
Wonkette Announces "Morning Zoo" Format
John Kerry's "Plan" Causes Surrender of Moqtada al-Sadr's Militia
World Muslim Leaders Apologize for Nick Berg's Beheading
Michael Moore Goes on Lunchtime Manhattan Death-Spree
Milestone: Oliver Willis Posts 400th "Fake News Article" Referencing Britney Spears
Liberal Economists Rue a "New Decade of Greed"
Artificial Insouciance: Maureen Dowd's Word Processor Revolts Against Her Numbing Imbecility
Intelligence Officials Eye Blogs for Tips
They Done Found Us Out, Cletus: Intrepid Internet Detective Figures Out Our Master Plan
Shock: Josh Marshall Almost Mentions Sarin Discovery in Iraq
Leather-Clad Biker Freaks Terrorize Australian Town
When Clinton Was President, Torture Was Cool
What Wonkette Means When She Explains What Tina Brown Means
Wonkette's Stand-Up Act
Wankette HQ Gay-Rumors Du Jour
Here's What's Bugging Me: Goose and Slider
My Own Micah Wright Style Confession of Dishonesty
Outraged "Conservatives" React to the FMA
An On-Line Impression of Dennis Miller Having Sex with a Kodiak Bear
The Story the Rightwing Media Refuses to Report!
Our Lunch with David "Glengarry Glen Ross" Mamet
The House of Love: Paul Krugman
A Michael Moore Mystery (TM)
The Dowd-O-Matic!
Liberal Consistency and Other Myths
Kepler's Laws of Liberal Media Bias
John Kerry-- The Splunge! Candidate
"Divisive" Politics & "Attacks on Patriotism" (very long)
The Donkey ("The Raven" parody)
Powered by
Movable Type 2.64