Forum Topic

Courage of their convictions

Guns are banned during Trump's speech at the National Rifle Association conference. The US Secret Service don't seem to understand how the right to bear arms actually protects people and saves lives."According to the NRA, the Secret Service is taking control of the hall during Trump's speech and is prohibiting attendees from having firearms, firearms accessories and knives. Ammunition, laser pointers, pepper spray, toy guns, backpacks and other items also won't be allowed.The Secret Service will search attendees with magnetometers before they enter the hall, the NRA said." (npr.org)Oh I should so love to see the NRA members defend their god-given right.

David Ainsworth ● 1347d18 Comments

Thank you Michael W, I stand corrected as 1791 is the accurate date.As you say, the current interpretation - very convenient for some - really breaks the wording and spirit of the 2nd amendment.  Thank you.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1339d

1791 actually. There was no constitution to amend in 1671 - American Independence dates back to 1776 and the Constitution to 1789.In principle you are correct though; the 2nd amendment is nothing to do with creating a right for lunatics to carry assault rifles - this a gross perversion of the truth spread by the NRA, gun lobby. Republican Party and other nutters.The 2nd amendment refers to "a well regulated militia" having a right to bear "arms", this "being necessary to the security of a free state". It was all about being able to defend themselves against the British. Subsequent interpretations of it have been complete nonsense.Having said that, they are perfectly free to change their own laws via congress and the senate, as they can with abortion, the death penalty and a host of other issues. Unfortunately there seems to be a preponderance of raving lunatics amongst both the US legislature and the US electorate which prevents them from being more sensible.From time to time, this is also a problem in the UK.

Michael Winstanley ● 1339d

The 2nd amendment dates from 1671. As far as I am aware, many things have changed in the US since 1671 when assault rifles and machine guns did not exist.Automatic guns did not exist either.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1340d

"SO of course the right to have arms"But a more important "right" if you have a continent to clear of the original population. Plus large numbers of slaves to control.

David Ainsworth ● 1340d

ALL the new colony wanted was voice in the Engish Parliment, we said - get stuffed - so the colonists took up arms and gave us an hidiing - SO of course the right to have arms

Patrick Barrs ● 1340d

Philippa. Interesting, I've only crossed between Canada and the US by land border a couple of times back in the early '80s and it was relatively straightforward, but I understand checks are more stringent these days. Just to clarify, I wasn't talking about FB 'likes' I was referring to postings and comments that leave no ambiguities!

Michael Ixer ● 1343d

"Gun deaths were the leading killer of US children in 2020""Guns overtook car crashes to become the leading cause of death for US children and teenagers in 2020, new research shows."https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-61192975"According to the research - which was published this week in the New England Journal Medicine - the rise in gun-related deaths among Americans between the ages of one and 19 was part of an overall 33.4% increase in firearm homicides nationwide."

David Ainsworth ● 1343d

Lol.  I know Canada isn't the US but you can drive between the two even though the checkpoint can be bizarrely difficult.  The 'like' function on Facebook is so easy to use that it doesn't encourage much thought if any unfortunately and can cause misunderstandings all over the place.

Philippa Bond ● 1343d

True, Ed, but I don't think there's a significant move to reverse them whereas in the US there are concerns they could be reversed by the Supreme Court because of the Republican bias of Trump's appointees. 

Michael Ixer ● 1343d

"as do other issues such as abortion, LGBTQ+ rights"Let us not forget that legislation was only recently passed- 2020, that gave these rights to all in the UK!

Ed Robinson ● 1343d

But Canada is not the US - their road signs are in km and km/h! As noted previously, this is a matter that divides the US deeply, as do other issues such as abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, etc. Among my US friends I can only think of one who would probably be in favour of carrying guns and that would mainly be for sporting purposes, and my US FB friends are very much in favour of gun controls. There's not going to be a quick solution while the gun lobby, the NRA, have a large influence on Congress. If Congress were to pass gun controls would a US Supreme Court, packed with Trump's right wingers, rule them unconditional? Fortunately one problem that isn't local to Putney!

Michael Ixer ● 1344d

It's interesting that Canada is tightening up their regulation of guns.  Time brings changes in what is available is on the market.  The US stance looks more and more ridiculous.

Philippa Bond ● 1344d

Although amendments can be changed by another amendment: amendment 21 repealed amendment 18 in less than two decades ...

Michael Ixer ● 1344d

"The US ratio of 120.5 firearms per 100 residents, up from 88 per 100 in 2011, far surpasses that of other countries around the world."Probably works out a bit more as 0.75% of the population are in prison. Although some sources put it slightly lower.https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41488081

Ed Robinson ● 1344d

Yeah, they could be allowed the kind of gun available at the time that the 2nd Amendment was passed, I guess.https://twitter.com/MovieFilmCrew/status/993181362839609348/photo/1I mean the chaps at the time could not have envisaged an AR-15.

David Ainsworth ● 1344d

Like every political topic, the 2nd Amendment’s interpretation is divided along political lines, with each side demonising the other and seemingly no room for compromise. Both sides have valid points, but an absolute ban on AR15s seems a reasonable start. I don’t think Governor Ivy wants one of those in her handbag.

Lisa Cottam ● 1344d

"The Second Amendment is sacred"!Discuss.

David Ainsworth ● 1344d

A recent family visit to Alabama coincided with Republican state primary elections. After 30 yrs of living in the UK I was truly shocked by the candidates’ television adverts. I found a few of them online. Brace yourself. The pistol-packing granny is the current state Governor.https://www.facebook.com/JudgeDebraJones/videos/judge-debra-jones-is-tough-on-crime-she-once-sentenced-a-child-molester-to-1008-/1224182505053161/https://mobile.twitter.com/kayiveyforgov/status/1525192250636087302https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zrlSDKC1lvk

Lisa Cottam ● 1344d