In an historic vote yesterday, the Senate voted to safeguard a fundamental American liberty, the right to be killed. The Senate blocked legislation that would have made IED users subject to background checks. The vote was in doubt after IED explosions had killed two people and maimed dozens at the Boston Marathon on Monday.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who led the fight against IED background checks said, "If the government takes away your right to be killed, what's next? Soon you might lose your right to maimed, raped or even pistol whipped."
"Hundred of thousands of American soldiers sacrificed their lives in foreign wars, so that Americans could be killed domestically," said Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa. "President Bush invaded Iraq to uphold Iraqis right to be killed. Obama authorized a surge in Afghanistan so the Afghans could enjoy the right to be killed. Should we defend this right for foreigners and violate it for Americans?"
In blocking IED background checks, the Senate, for the first time ever, defeated the powerful Anti- Death League (ADL) on a core issue. For decades Senators feared political retribution if they opposed this single issue lobbying group on the perpetuation of life. "The ADL no longer controls the agenda regarding killing," said Senator Mark Begich of Alaska. "I think you will see a loosening of a lot of laws and regulations, such as clean air, clean water, and control of toxic substances, that were enacted to save lives."
Wayne LaTueur, CEO of the National IED Association, hailed the Senate for protecting Americans' Second Amendment's right to be killed. "A government so powerful that it can prevent you from being killed by an IED can also prevent you from using IEDs to kill people who richly deserve it," LaTueur stated. He reiterated that most members of the National IED Association use IEDs recreationally to deter home purchases by people who might lower neighborhood real estate values."
In a parallel development, the Supreme Court ruled yesterday, that the Second Amendment's right to be killed does not apply to corporations. "Corporations are people only if it benefits them," Justice Scalia wrote in a 5 to 4 decision. "Thus corporations enjoy the right to bear arms and form militia, but not the right to be killed. This was the original intent of the constitution, and if it wasn't, it should have been."