On Monday, it was national news when a man (identified only as "Chris") appeared at a health care rally in Phoenix, Arizona, openly and legally carrying an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle and a semiautomatic handgun. He was not alone. While President Obama addressed a Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) convention directly across the street, Phoenix police and Secret Service agents actively monitored "Chris" and twelve others who openly carried handguns (it is unknown how many of the protesters were carrying concealed handguns, which is also legal in Arizona with a permit).
Like William Kostric (who openly carried a handgun outside of President Obama's town hall meeting in New Hampshire with a sign that read, "IT IS TIME TO WATER THE TREE OF LIBERTY!") before him, "Chris" initially told the press that he was carrying these weapons to exercise his Constitutional rights, stating, "In Arizona, I still have some freedoms." [Never mind that Justice Scalia made it perfectly clear that there is no Second Amendment right to carry a firearm in public in last year's District of Columbia v. Heller decision.]
The media overlooked the implications of these words, focusing instead (and understandably) on the public safety aspects of the incident. A new video from the Freedom's Phoenix website, however, leaves no doubt as to exactly what type of Second Amendment "right" "Chris" was attempting to vindicate that day. When asked about his AR-15 rifle, "Chris" states that "it aids me in my resistance efforts." The video then records him saying the following during the rally:
"[The government says,] 'I want education, and I'm just going to take it from you' ... 'I want this that, this that, this that. I'll just vote and take it from you.' Well, eventually in America people will be able to say, 'no.' If the burden of all this thievery gets too thick and you can't make it anymore, if that's what's necessary, that's what's necessary. What do you think we did in the revolution, in the American Revolution? The British weren't stealing money from us for health care. They weren't taxing us the way they are now back then. And what did we do? We forcefully kicked them out of our country, and we will forcefully resist people imposing their will on us through the strength of the majority with a vote. Just because you sick a government on people doesn't make it morally OK to steal money from them. Taxation is theft--all taxation, all taxation."
It was later revealed on CNN that "Chris" and his interviewer had planned the appearance as a publicity stunt for the conservative radio show "Declare Your Independence With Ernest Hancock." However, their statements and actions, while contrived, were, according to them, sincere.
In a book I recently co-authored with Casey Anderson, Guns, Democracy, and the Insurrectionist Idea, we note that the U.S. Constitution was drafted with the idea that we should have a government that--while protective of individual rights--has enough power to execute the will of a majority. The drafting of the Constitution, of course, was partially inspired by mob violence in major American cities and Shay's Rebellion, where a group of farmers in Massachusetts used force to temporarily usurp the power of local governments in a dispute over taxation. While our country was born out of revolution, our Founders quickly realized it could not be governed in a state of perpetual revolution. George Washington and the other Founders gathered in Philadelphia to craft a document that could respond to this political violence. Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution states that one of the purposes of the Militia is to "suppress Insurrections," not to foment them. The Congress was also permitted to raise a standing Army.
The reason such clauses were important is that without a strong central government, individual citizens would have been able to continue to disregard lawful statutes, thereby violating the rights of all Americans who disagreed with them politically. Abraham Lincoln picked up on this theme when he remarked on secession, saying, "This issue embraces more than the fate of these United States ... It presents the question, whether discontented individuals, too few in numbers to control administration ... can always ... break up their government, and thus practically put an end to free government on earth." With the Union victory in the Civil War, that question should have been settled once and for all.
Today's self-styled "patriots" are eager to recall 1776, but fail to understand the tempering influences of the Constitution. Armed health care protesters have made it clear that individual safety is not their primary concern--instead their show of force at these events is a reminder to elected officials that, in their view, armed citizens have the final say. This elevation of "individual sovereignty" over the Constitutionally-mandated democratic process is the antithesis of what our Founders fought for.
The means to dissent in our modern democracy are many. We have free and fair elections, we have courts, we have the rule of law and, most importantly, we have a national commitment to political equality. Brandishing weapons as a method of political expression is a clear demonstration that one does not respect the political equality of one's fellow citizens; and it is at odds with our most fundamental values as Americans.
There are many laws that I might not like or agree with (such as those that allow individuals to openly carry assault weapons at political rallies), but I have chosen to exercise my democratic rights by engaging my fellow citizens and elected officials in a peaceful, thoughtful and vigorous debate. The First Amendment is an important right and powerful tool and should not be undermined by a radical interpretation of the Second Amendment. If we let "the guys with the guns make the rules" then the very fabric of our democracy is up for grabs.
Follow Josh Horwitz on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CSGV
You are obviously nervous about my idea.
Good.
Favorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:30 PM on...........
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i like your idea dream...i just don't think it has enough merit to cause the justices to let the case be heard...as i said below...in a sense you are saying that there are certain instances which require all citizens to only exercise one right at a time....the gun control advocates fought tooth and nail to keep the heller case out of the courts because there was no way that the court would come down on the side of a collective right and if the court ruled in favor of the individual right the gun control debate is that much closer to being buried forever....your case would probably have the same detractors...think of what you are advocating...a possible unintended consequence could be that when a person is arrested they can only exercise one of their rights...so do you choose the 4th or the 5th...or maybe you will be limited to only exercising each right once in your life...that would probably put the nra and planned parenthood on the same side against your test case...anyway...i hope you keep posting...
Interesting how Horwitz is trying to get the media to pick up on a re-definition of Open Carry as "brandishing", given the illegality of brandishing arms without meeting self-defense requirements.
For those confused, "brandishing" an Open Carry weapon means a hand is on the weapon and the weapon is not holstered (or slung in carry mode). If carried concealed, some jurisdictions call intentional exposure of a concealed weapon as "brandishing". So drawing an Open carry gun from a holster, or grasping a slung long arm so as to be able to aim and fire it, is brandishing. Or pulling back a jacket or shirt and putting a hand on the butt of a pistol, can be brandishing. But the simple act of legal Open Carry or Concealed Carry is not brandishing.
Unfortunately, as reality isn't sufficient for Horwitz to make and win his case, he has to resort to fabrications to perpetuate has straw-man case againt his Insurrectionist myth.
Now there's a major trend - twice in 13 years!
http://www.tactical-life.com/online/special-weapons/rra-lar-458-458s-socom/......
just for you grits....the above gun may look like an "assault weapon" but it is actually the modern day interpretation of the the old government issue 45-70...you know....your granddads old deer gun.....
Hey, Gritz, "data" is not the plural of "anecdote".
"It's not nice we have to arm ourselves like the soldiers in Iraq," said Sgt. Laurie Pfeil, who supervises a sheriff's road patrol in Palm Beach County and is now certified to carry a semiautomatic AR-15 rifle on the job. It's the civilian version of the military's M-16 used by U.S. soldiers in Iraq. "We are like soldiers. It is a war, "says Sgt Pfeil.
"The streets of South Florida are being flooded by AK-47s and assault weapons from old Soviet bloc countries. It's driven the price down, making the availability greater," said [Miami Police] Chief [John] Timoney.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/11/05/cops.guns/index.html
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2008/Video_shows_police_shooting_man_laying_0105.html.....
Compared to the power of the AR-15 or AK47, a common deer hunting rifle is vastly more powerful.
"When we get into a situation where the bad guys are carrying heavy weaponry, then we start to worry that we don't have enough firepower. We would need something to at least equal or surpass their weapon capabilities," said Gainesville Police Lt. Brian Helmerson, commander of the agency's Operational Skills Unit and Advanced Law Enforcement Rifle Team ... "They have greater firepower than we do," he said ... Helmerson said [Gainesville Police Chief Norman Botsford] will be considering one option for that agency that would include training and arming all patrol officers to carry semiautomatic rifles such as an AR-15 or a Mini-14.
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20071215/NEWS/712150322
“Dade Urges Renewing Assault-Arms Ban”
Assault weapons have become so easily found in South Florida, and are so affordable, that Miami Police Detective Delrish Moss said he's heard they're being sold from the trunks of cars for as little as $200 or $300.
Also joining the call to reinstate the ban was Miami-Dade's police union chief John Rivera, who said that while he supports the right to bear arms, ``I do not believe there's a place in society for certain assault weapons, an AK-47 is one of them. It was blue-printed for war.''
http://ps90forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=28234&sid=2f913b55d2e670ff0afd134b0f12a9cc
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/jun/06/local/me-detective-arrested6......
Since 1993, the year before the ban took effect, ATF has recorded a more than sevenfold increase in 7.62x39mm guns—which includes the original Russian-made AK-47 and a variety of copycats from around the world. The number of AK-type guns rose from 1,140 in 1993 to 8,547 last year. Since 2005, the first full year after the ban's expiration, ATF has recorded an 11 percent increase in such tracings.
"We're in an arms race," said Police Chief Scott Knight of Chaska, Minnesota, chairman of the firearms committee of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Days before the ambush [of Miami police officer Jose Somohano, who was shot and killed with a semiautomatic AK-47], Miami Police Chief John Timoney agreed to let patrol officers carry assault rifles to help counter the use of such weapons by criminals. John Rivera, president of the Dade County Police Benevolent Association, pleaded for the same for officers in the Miami-Dade department, which protects more than 1.4 million people around the city. "It's almost like we have water pistols," he said.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004307403_apak47s.html?syndication=rss
“Assault Weapons Multiply, Take Deadly Toll”
“They’re everywhere,” [Miami Police Chief John] Timoney said. “At $100 or $200, everyone can afford one of these killing machines.”
http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/media-center/mh_011408.shtml
http://www.insidesocal.com/crime&courts/2008/12/late-breaking-news-lapd-pacifi.html.....
Hundreds of officers will be issued AR-15 rifles starting this summer, and police say the guns will be a better match for criminals ... The D.C. police department's decision to arm patrol officers with semiautomatic rifles is promoted by commanders as a way to stay ahead of criminals ... "We want to be prepared," Lanier said. "I want officers to have what they need to be safe."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/05/17/ST2008051700306.html
“Officer's Death Reignites Fuse on Gun-Control Debate”
“There is absolutely no reason that anyone should be carrying around military-style assault weapons,” [said Thomas Krajewski, Sr.]. “I mean, we saw what a weapon like that did to a human body. I mean, I own guns and my sons and I hunt as well, but I don’t have assault rifles or anything. There’s no need for it.” [Held Sergeant Stephen Liczbinski, a dying Philadelphia officer, in his arms after he was shot and killed by a semiautomatic SKS assault rifle.]
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/top_story/20080506_Officer_s_death_reignites_fuse_on_gun-control_debate.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/29/crooked-cops-caught-plott_n_246987.html.....
"It really makes us worry a lot, particularly when you consider the number of rounds fired during this homicide the other night," Major Clark said. "We were going up there with handguns, with Glocks. This guy has an AK-47. If a police officer had come up in that area, he would have definitely been out gunned."
"These are killing machines. They are not designed for recreational use," Sheriff's Major John Clark said.
That's why some deputies have gotten permission to patrol carrying their own assault rifles.
http://www.live5news.com/global/story.asp?s=9773732&ClientType=Printable
“Authorities Seeing Increase in Use of Assault Weapons”
"I've been in this business 25 years, and it's just getting worse," Franklin County Sheriff Pat Green said.
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/3444731/
“Fort Lauderdale Florida Police to Get Military Style Assault Rifles”
Fort Lauderdale just purchased 100 Colt AR-6520 rifles in June 2008 “to provide officers adequate equipment to effectively resolve violent incidents.”
http://ci.ftlaud.fl.us/documents/comm_minutes08/060308cc_regminutes.pdf
http://www.desototimes.com/articles/2009/07/03/news/state/doc4a4e51a842f33752135841.txt....
To understand the power of the weapon that Officer Sean Fleming was confronting, know this: Police believe two rounds went through Fleming's Jeep before piercing his bullet-resistant vest.
Police said Thursday that Christopher White wielded a semi-automatic AK-47 when he burst out of a van and fired on police officers.
"He was still seated in the vehicle when he was assaulted," [Chesapeake Police Major T.D.] Branch said. "Those type of weapons, depending on what kind of rounds, typically penetrate metal. They're pretty powerful."
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/06/police-say-i64-shootout-suspect-used-ak47-assault-rifle
“Semiautomatic Rifles a ‘Hazard'; Seizures are Up”
“The fact that we have these relatively cheap, assault weapon-type firearms out there, it's not only a hazard to the public, but in particular to police officers,” said [Fort Wayne Police Chief Rusty] York, who supports renewing the [federal assault weapons] ban. “It's proof that they continue to get into the hands of irresponsible people … It's a weapon of war, not of sport. I'm sure it will be a political battle, but the officers are out in the street fighting that battle every day.”
http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/SE/20090511/NEWS/905110328
http://www.thecitizen.com/~citizen0/node/38570.....
“Brazen Weapon Fire Chills Police”
The gang shoot-out that rained gunfire and smoke on a quiet Dorchester street this week disturbed police … At least one of the weapons used in the gunfire was an AK-47 assault rifle, the fourth time in three weeks that one had been found or used in Boston…
“This [weapon] can lay down a lot of fire in an urban area where there is basically no cover from it,’’ [Boston Police] Commissioner Edward F. Davis said yesterday. “You can conceal yourself from these weapons, but they’ll rip through a car. They’ll rip through a telephone pole. They can rip through just about anything in an urban environment. Everybody understands when they read the morning paper that you have to push as much as you can to get these guns off the street,’’ he said.
The vast majority of firearms used in homicides and shootings are still handguns. But police worry about the attractiveness of assault rifles to gangs. AK-47s are much more powerful than handguns, capable of firing at least 100 yards, and can be easily converted into automatic weapons.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/30/brazen_assault_weapon_shoot_out_in_dorchester_chills_police/
As will any rifle. Especially the higher power rifles like deer hunting rifles.
http://crooksandliars.com/logan-murphy/idaho-gop-leader-tea-party-organizer
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/06/23/missing.woman/......
http://crooksandliars.com/logan-murphy/idaho-gop-leader-tea-party-organizer
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/06/23/missing.woman/....