Watch: A Professor’s Amazing Idea On Dealing With Open Carry Activists
A philosophy professor offers an amazing response to open carry activists who enter family-friendly establishments with guns strapped to their backs. He notes,”As many have pointed out, there is no way for bystanders to know whether the people with guns are “good guys” or “bad guys.” It is rational to be afraid of someone with a weapon, especially if you know nothing about them.”
That’s been my argument for awhile when gun activists claim there’s nothing to fear from an “inanimate object” but we don’t know the person whose hand is on the trigger. We do see their blatant disrespect for others though.
Jack Russell Weinstein, professor of philosophy and director of the Institute for Philosophy in Public Life at the University of North Dakota, came up with a solution as to how we should respond when witnessing these gun toting groups entering a store.
Weinstein writes:
My proposal is as follows: we should all leave. Immediately. Leave the food on the table in the restaurant. Leave the groceries in the cart, in the aisle. Stop talking or engaging in the exchange. Just leave, unceremoniously, and fast.
But here is the key part: don’t pay. Stopping to pay in the presence of a person with a gun means risking your and your loved ones’ lives; money shouldn’t trump this. It doesn’t matter if you ate the meal. It doesn’t matter if you’ve just received food from the deli counter that can’t be resold. It doesn’t matter if you just got a haircut. Leave. If the business loses money, so be it. They can make the activists pay.
Following this procedure has several advantages. First, it protects people. Second, it forces the businesses to really choose where their loyalties are. If the second amendment is as important as people claim, then people should be willing to pay for it. God knows, free speech is tremendously expensive.
Watch:
A YouTube commenter writes, “The best way to react is to thank them for supporting your rights and the Constitution. Advocating theft at restaurants is not a moral argument.”
We can thank our founding fathers, not gun carrying gangs, thank you very much. As for the allegation of “theft,” the professor covered that topic in the video.
There’s nothing to thank these two young men for after their group entered a Chipotle restaurant in Texas.
While activists have certain “rights” — which they have abused — nowhere on our favorite restaurant’s menu does it read, “Cheeseburger with a side of gangsta, yo.”
H/T: Shamelessly stolen from Wonkette.
Image: Crooks and Liars.
Click here for reuse options!Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: Anomaly100
jendoc July 27th, 2014 at 04:55
I see a gun and it’s not an obviously uniformed officer, perhaps on his or her lunch break, I’m out. I grab my kid and we run. Fast!
G Deuce Dydell July 27th, 2014 at 07:27
sweet me too.
Matthias Dankert July 27th, 2014 at 23:29
All you’re doing is teaching your kids to be hoplophobes too. It’s people like you with irrational fears of everything and everyone that ruin good fun for honest people. Have fun being a wussy the rest of your life. And you’re teaching your kids to be wussies too…. so sad
okieggma July 27th, 2014 at 23:51
You are an idiot.
Matthias Dankert July 28th, 2014 at 00:57
Says the liberal trying to advocate gun reform. lol.
Dottie WhiteTrashGal July 28th, 2014 at 23:34
People get shot accidently EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. I own 2 guns, but I am not stupid enough to think there’s no danger to others when masses of untrained and stupid people are carrying guns in public like we’re living in a police state and they’re the police.
Grow up.
Matthias Dankert July 27th, 2014 at 23:29
All you’re doing is teaching your kids to be hoplophobes too. It’s people like you with irrational fears of everything and everyone that ruin good fun for honest people. Have fun being a wussy the rest of your life. And you’re teaching your kids to be wussies too…. so sad
Elioron July 27th, 2014 at 21:27
That’s exactly the type of irrational idiocy that locked down half of a State Capital for 6 hours because someone walked to the bus with an umbrella, but an ignorant fool called the police that he had a rifle.
okieggma July 27th, 2014 at 23:51
Exactly…..I called 911 and the dispatcher told me to just leave the area.
Fritz July 28th, 2014 at 00:18
Why? Let’s say you go into a taqueria and you sit down and you notice that the guy in another booth has a pistol on his belt while he is eating his burrito and drinking some horchata. Minding his business, eating, chatting with a friend. Are you so irrational that you would run away?
jendoc July 28th, 2014 at 00:29
A police office visited my daughter’s preschool. Afterwards, we talked about why we choose not to have guns in our house. She was happy and relieved as the officer taught her that guns are not toys and can hurt kids. If she sees a gun, she will be concerned. Having a gun near vastly increases the risk of being shot. I am a single mom…it’s just her and me. I never want that to change.
I would appreciate it if you’d refrain from trying to insult me by calling me irrational.
Fritz July 28th, 2014 at 00:32
Guns are certainly not toys. But, yeah, I think that kind of reaction to someone calmly eating lunch is irrational. It wasn’t an attempt to insult you, fwiw.
jendoc July 28th, 2014 at 00:37
I don’t know the person with the gun. Therefore, I don’t know the intentions of that person. If I saw the gun, I would gather my kid and leave…probably calmly and rationally. Note I said “if I saw the gun”. That means they are making it obvious and not rational enough to keep it concealed. Gun carriers that are obvious about it should be a concern.
THX-1138 July 29th, 2014 at 15:22
Crazy people eat Mexican food, too. Crazy people chat with their friends. Crazy people calmly watch television. Crazy people sometimes just sit silently. The bottom line is open carry advocates want to go around with their guns strapped to their sides or backs and those of us who aren’t open carry advocates would rather not occupy the same space. All the professor is saying is that if we don’t like it we should leave. Are you saying that those of us who are not comfortable have to stay? It’s not irrational to wish to be some other place than with people who lack fire arms training who walk around in public armed. I have options for where I buy my tortas.
Fritz July 30th, 2014 at 00:33
I tend to carry concealed, so you can chow down on your tortas in ignorance.
THX-1138 July 30th, 2014 at 15:15
Good for you. I wouldn’t want you to feel threatened by a Mexican food street vendor.
Dan Kellam July 28th, 2014 at 19:17
I’m from canada, and when we see someone carrying a gun openly we call the cops, and they get arrested. you guys should try it sometime, literally every time you see someone carrying a gun, call it in as a terrorist threat. (yeah, gun carrying wackos are terrorists, they intimidate people and use fear to get what they want, and yes right wing terrorists are responsible for more deaths in total on american soil then any other group) Cue the angry gun toting sociopath comments. BTW, more people are killed by toddlers with guns in the US each year, then are killed by guns in total in all of canada. So much for safe inanimate objects eh?
jendoc July 28th, 2014 at 21:22
I’m moving to Canada.
Dan Kellam July 28th, 2014 at 22:10
we are short on doctors, and have less population then the state of california in the largest country in the world. (no kidding)
jendoc July 27th, 2014 at 04:55
I see a gun and it’s not an obviously uniformed officer, perhaps on his or her lunch break, I’m out. I grab my kid and we run. Fast!
G Deuce Dydell July 27th, 2014 at 07:27
sweet me too.
Matthias Dankert July 27th, 2014 at 23:29
All you’re doing is teaching your kids to be hoplophobes too. It’s people like you with irrational fears of everything and everyone that ruin good fun for honest people. Have fun being a wussy the rest of your life. And you’re teaching your kids to be wussies too…. so sad
okieggma July 27th, 2014 at 23:51
You are an idiot.
Matthias Dankert July 28th, 2014 at 00:57
Says the liberal trying to advocate gun reform. lol.
Dottie WhiteTrashGal July 28th, 2014 at 23:34
People get shot accidently EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. I own 2 guns, but I am not stupid enough to think there’s no danger to others when masses of untrained and stupid people are carrying guns in public like we’re living in a police state and they’re the police.
Grow up.
Elioron July 27th, 2014 at 21:27
That’s exactly the type of irrational idiocy that locked down half of a State Capital for 6 hours because someone walked to the bus with an umbrella, but an ignorant fool called the police that he had a rifle.
okieggma July 27th, 2014 at 23:51
Exactly…..I called 911 and the dispatcher told me to just leave the area.
Fritz July 28th, 2014 at 00:18
Why? Let’s say you go into a taqueria and you sit down and you notice that the guy in another booth has a pistol on his belt while he is eating his burrito and drinking some horchata. Minding his business, eating, chatting with a friend. Are you so irrational that you would run away?
jendoc July 28th, 2014 at 00:29
A police office visited my daughter’s preschool. Afterwards, we talked about why we choose not to have guns in our house. She was happy and relieved as the officer taught her that guns are not toys and can hurt kids. If she sees a gun, she will be concerned. Having a gun near vastly increases the risk of being shot. I am a single mom…it’s just her and me. I never want that to change.
I would appreciate it if you’d refrain from trying to insult me by calling me irrational.
Fritz July 28th, 2014 at 00:32
Guns are certainly not toys. But, yeah, I think that kind of reaction to someone calmly eating lunch is irrational. It wasn’t an attempt to insult you, fwiw.
jendoc July 28th, 2014 at 00:37
I don’t know the person with the gun. Therefore, I don’t know the intentions of that person. If I saw the gun, I would gather my kid and leave…probably calmly and rationally. Note I said “if I saw the gun”. That means they are making it obvious and not rational enough to keep it concealed. Gun carriers that are obvious about it should be a concern.
THX-1138 July 29th, 2014 at 15:22
Crazy people eat Mexican food, too. Crazy people chat with their friends. Crazy people calmly watch television. Crazy people sometimes just sit silently. The bottom line is open carry advocates want to go around with their guns strapped to their sides or backs and those of us who aren’t open carry advocates would rather not occupy the same space. All the professor is saying is that if we don’t like it we should leave. Are you saying that those of us who are not comfortable have to stay? It’s not irrational to wish to be some other place than with people who lack fire arms training who walk around in public armed. I have options for where I buy my tortas.
Fritz July 30th, 2014 at 00:33
I tend to carry concealed, so you can chow down on your tortas in ignorance.
THX-1138 July 30th, 2014 at 15:15
Good for you. I wouldn’t want you to feel threatened by a Mexican food street vendor.
Dan Kellam July 28th, 2014 at 19:17
I’m from canada, and when we see someone carrying a gun openly we call the cops, and they get arrested. you guys should try it sometime, literally every time you see someone carrying a gun, call it in as a terrorist threat. (yeah, gun carrying wackos are terrorists, they intimidate people and use fear to get what they want, and yes right wing terrorists are responsible for more deaths in total on american soil then any other group) Cue the angry gun toting sociopath comments. BTW, more people are killed by toddlers with guns in the US each year, then are killed by guns in total in all of canada. So much for safe inanimate objects eh?
jendoc July 28th, 2014 at 21:22
I’m moving to Canada.
Dan Kellam July 28th, 2014 at 22:10
we are short on doctors, and have less population then the state of california in the largest country in the world. (no kidding)
G Deuce Dydell July 27th, 2014 at 07:26
Yep yet another place I WONT be visiting! With all the gunnerz out there Im more afraid of ya’ll than I have been anything ever in my life! We are talkin Gulf War… 2 campaigns, drug ops and pirate control in the Caribbean, survival instin…ct training with defusing practices…two Tomahawk cruise missle campaigns with foreign ship boarding teams to search for illegal contraband. All in which I hath no fear. I fear WAY more a town or a country who can BUY and BLAST at will and the mutha fukkaz DEAD gets the bad mouth. Like I said Wally world is about in my rearview among a few other places! Guess imma become a doomsday prepper and stay at home and grow and milk what I need to survive.
Kevin Roelofs July 27th, 2014 at 10:41
Wow Rambo, with all that accomplished, you should be ready to join Seal Team 8…GTFO, stop fishing for attention!
G Deuce Dydell July 27th, 2014 at 07:26
Yep yet another place I WONT be visiting! With all the gunnerz out there Im more afraid of ya’ll than I have been anything ever in my life! We are talkin Gulf War… 2 campaigns, drug ops and pirate control in the Caribbean, survival instin…ct training with defusing practices…two Tomahawk cruise missle campaigns with foreign ship boarding teams to search for illegal contraband. All in which I hath no fear. I fear WAY more a town or a country who can BUY and BLAST at will and the mutha fukkaz DEAD gets the bad mouth. Like I said Wally world is about in my rearview among a few other places! Guess imma become a doomsday prepper and stay at home and grow and milk what I need to survive.
Kevin Roelofs July 27th, 2014 at 10:41
Wow Rambo, with all that accomplished, you should be ready to join Seal Team 8…GTFO, stop fishing for attention!
Kevin Roelofs July 27th, 2014 at 10:44
…between the comments from conservatives and liberals, it has become REALLY clear to me why I dont pick sides…talk about some blind, crayon eating, window licking mofos.
Kevin Roelofs July 27th, 2014 at 10:44
…between the comments from conservatives and liberals, it has become REALLY clear to me why I dont pick sides…talk about some blind, crayon eating, window licking mofos.
emma July 27th, 2014 at 11:32
it does happen, Mo. At the very least, the server is responsible for the taxes on the meal – and with no tip, they in essence pay for the meal anyway, especially if they have to tip out to bartenders, bussers, and hosts.
Mo Reno July 27th, 2014 at 15:22
Balderdash, emma. Servers are not responsible for the taxes on meals they serve, they’re servers, not tax collectors.
Maybe I’m wrong. Can you show me the law that makes servers responsible for taxes on meals they don’t eat?
coastx July 27th, 2014 at 11:49
Jack Russell Weinstein, professor of philosophy and the INVERSE HERMENEUTIC. Some of you people are stupid. This guy isn’t promoting humanity. He’s promoting the inverse of it, the consequence for not understanding this rewarding HIS mission creep to lead the flock, YOU, into a double bind dead end.
Carla Akins July 27th, 2014 at 12:07
Did somebody get a thesaurus for Christmas?
coastx July 27th, 2014 at 12:16
TROLL award to Clara Akins> LOL Kewl OMG LMAO. Congratulations!
Anomaly 100 July 27th, 2014 at 15:53
Don’t troll out moderators. They’re here voluntarily.
Continue bloviating, thank you!
coastx July 27th, 2014 at 17:00
MODERATOR’S got a family that hangs around online together. Ewe!
Anomaly 100 July 27th, 2014 at 17:28
Carla and I are friends. Is that OK with you?
In fact, I’m friends with all of our moderators.
WTF is “ewe”? Do you hate on animals, too?
Brendan Bassett July 28th, 2014 at 14:21
should moderators be jeering people?
danah gaz July 28th, 2014 at 18:29
Yes.
Brendan Bassett July 29th, 2014 at 14:34
and this ‘moderating’ achieved its objective by provoking a comment that had to be deleted? Fighting fires with flammable liquids seems a little shortsighted.
mea_mark July 29th, 2014 at 14:40
You really shouldn’t criticize the moderators much if you want your comments to remain posted. We might delete just because.
Brendan Bassett July 29th, 2014 at 14:42
So in your case it is, essentially, bullying.
danah gaz July 29th, 2014 at 14:42
*hands you a tissue*
Brendan Bassett July 29th, 2014 at 14:44
please translate.
danah gaz July 29th, 2014 at 14:45
It’s no fun watching a grown man whine.
Brendan Bassett July 29th, 2014 at 14:48
No, I assure you, I’m pmsl at you folks.
danah gaz July 29th, 2014 at 14:52
Sure thing cupcake.
Hey mods? It might be a good idea to take out the trash. He just tacitly admitted he’s here to troll.
meconiummm August 5th, 2014 at 17:35
You’re still trolling and doing a lot of name calling.
danah gaz August 13th, 2014 at 12:14
Cry for me.
Anomaly 100 August 4th, 2014 at 09:28
I think I love you.
meconiummm August 5th, 2014 at 17:34
Now you are trolling, but you are trolling for righteousness.
danah gaz July 29th, 2014 at 14:42
Short sighted indeed. This Brendan character is hilarious.
danah gaz July 29th, 2014 at 14:53
Brendan just tacitly admitted he’s here to troll, if you didn’t catch it below.
Not telling you how to do your job – but just sayin – in case you missed it.
meconiummm August 5th, 2014 at 17:32
Are you familiar with the Stanford Prison Experiment?
mea_mark August 5th, 2014 at 17:47
It’s been years but what is your point?
Vincent August 29th, 2014 at 00:27
Censorship. Great job communist.
mea_mark August 29th, 2014 at 12:28
It is not so much censorship as it removing vile filth, which usually but not always comes from those on the right. My original comment was really kinda snarky, I guess it just goes over some peoples heads. It really should be quite obvious that bad mouthing and criticizing ones host can lead to problems but then again some people have a hard time with the obvious.
danah gaz July 29th, 2014 at 14:41
Do you know what seems even more short sighted?
Trying to lecture the moderators of a board on what they can and can’t do. Moderators can join in on comments as well. Your paternalistic nonsense just makes me laugh in your general direction. Get a hobby, dad.
meconiummm August 5th, 2014 at 17:36
You sound like a gun nut.
Vincent August 29th, 2014 at 00:26
Its called ethics. Is it ethical to be the moderator of a so-called open discussion/debate when the person filtering and deleting is also advocating for one side? Kinda makes it a one sided argument. Like a man with one leg in an ass kicking competition. Its no longer a fair and balanced debate. You lose your arguments when the only way to win in censorship of the opposition. But I guess thats life in the ObamaNation. Censor all opposition to your radical agenda.
danah gaz August 29th, 2014 at 01:59
Well when you run your own website, and pay for it’s hosing, you can decide how it’s moderated. Fancy that.
Anomaly 100 August 4th, 2014 at 09:27
Except you don’t see the deleted and pending comments. We do.
Brendan Bassett August 5th, 2014 at 09:45
I realize that the Internet is full of crazy people and that moderating is a difficult and thankless task. I was just trying to point out that less is sometimes enough. It’s possible to tell someone to be more concise without jeering them.
For another moderator to say that people who disagree will be blocked….do you think that’s right?
It must be hard to live in a countrywhere something like advocating a modern health care system gets you called a communist, but when all discussion is pushed to the extremes, the only winners are those who want to control. As the French say, bon courage.
Anomaly 100 August 5th, 2014 at 10:44
The mods are also our readers. I jump in the comments when I can because I genuinely love our regulars here. They make me smile and LOL every single day without fail.
Mo Reno July 27th, 2014 at 15:24
It came with a free caps lock key, too.
LOLOLZ July 27th, 2014 at 16:59
So, an open carry on a populace that already knows we have 2nd amendment rights is providing a shield to protect liberty and freedom? Really?
All this is.. is random penis waving by random idiots with semi-automatic weapons.
The simple minded reap what they sow? How about the exponential possibility of some random idiot with his weapon accidentally discharging it in a public place? There are those of us who would rather not have to deal with guns in our faces all the time and people should be concerned of a person’s intentions when they walk into a grocery store with a deadly weapon… could they be a “patriot” or could they be a robber? Or could it possibly be some disgruntled employee about to exact revenge on their old boss? Too many ifs and possible outcomes for my liking.
Bmac July 29th, 2014 at 20:36
Exactly. Why stand up and protest for a right you have that no one tried to take away. However, now it is more likely the right will be taken away, especially if an accident occurs and people die.
PavePusher December 28th, 2014 at 23:37
Your obsession with other people’s genitalia, and your confusing them with firearms, is noted.
Get some counseling. Soon.
Carla Akins July 27th, 2014 at 12:07
Did somebody get a thesaurus for Christmas?
Mo Reno July 27th, 2014 at 15:24
It came with a free caps lock key, too.
DamOTclese2 July 27th, 2014 at 12:28
How is what these Republican extremists are doing anything other than terrorism?
coastx July 27th, 2014 at 13:26
Simple minded rhetoric for the simple minded. Do “they” PAY you to do this?
Matthias Dankert July 27th, 2014 at 23:27
How is it that you Democrat p*ssies can even survive outside your houses?
concreteblue July 28th, 2014 at 00:45
Cause we’re not pussies. Duh. How come you are such a pussy you cannot go anywhere without your penis extender…uh, er, your gun?
Margie Bateman Osgood July 28th, 2014 at 02:12
Because we don’t need a gun or feel the need to express our toughness in public
Matthias Dankert July 27th, 2014 at 23:27
How is it that you Democrat p*ssies can even survive outside your houses?
okieggma July 27th, 2014 at 23:49
I call them domestic terrorists……they are phucking insane.
DamOTclese2 July 27th, 2014 at 12:28
How is what these Republican extremists are doing anything other than terrorism?
okieggma July 27th, 2014 at 23:49
I call them domestic terrorists……they are phucking insane.
concreteblue July 28th, 2014 at 00:45
Cause we’re not pussies. Duh. How come you are such a pussy you cannot go anywhere without your penis extender…uh, er, your gun?
Margie Bateman Osgood July 28th, 2014 at 02:12
Because we don’t need a gun or feel the need to express our toughness in public
blacksmythe July 27th, 2014 at 14:13
I’d modify that last sentence. the term “gangsta” has a racial connotation…and while there is a race-class stereotype associated with 2nd amendment folk, the last thing i think of when i think of someone walking into burger king or chipotle with a gun shouting open carry is some black kid from compton.
konradical July 27th, 2014 at 15:13
or some italian guy from chicago, or some asian guy from chinatown, or some russian guy from Brighton Beach, or some idiot from…wherever you’re from.
Obewon July 27th, 2014 at 20:54
‘Someone walking into burger king or chipotle with a gun shouting open carry isn’t some black kid from compton.’-N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton Express Yourself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u31FO_4d9TY
blacksmythe July 27th, 2014 at 21:54
Grew up with this track. The point stands.
blacksmythe July 27th, 2014 at 14:13
I’d modify that last sentence. the term “gangsta” has a racial connotation…and while there is a race-class stereotype associated with 2nd amendment folk, the last thing i think of when i think of someone walking into burger king or chipotle with a gun shouting open carry is some black kid from compton.
konradical July 27th, 2014 at 15:13
or some italian guy from chicago, or some asian guy from chinatown, or some russian guy from Brighton Beach, or some idiot from…wherever you’re from.
Obewon July 27th, 2014 at 20:54
Hi 5-o? Open Carry Rappers just took over my burger joint & coffee shop. ‘Someone walking into burger king or chipotle with a gun shouting open carry isn’t some black kid from compton.’-N.W.A. Straight Outta Compton Express Yourself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u31FO_4d9TY
blacksmythe July 27th, 2014 at 21:54
Grew up with this track. The point stands.
KKSD July 27th, 2014 at 15:36
What WELL-REGULATED MILITIA do these “I can’t eat no burrito ‘less I’s got my semi with me” bozos belong to? Why do the first words of their beloved 2nd Amendment mean nothing to them?
Jeremy July 27th, 2014 at 19:57
What part of the RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed, do you not understand. Now let’s get back to the militia. Who is the militia? Title 10, US Code. Every able bodied male between the age of 17 and 45 is the Militia….. Per Current US law. Now let’s get to well regulated. The phrase “well-regulated” was in common use long before 1789, and remained so for a century thereafter. It referred to the property of something being in proper working order. Something that was well-regulated was calibrated correctly, functioning as expected. Establishing government oversight of the people’s arms was not only not the intent in using the phrase in the 2nd amendment, it was precisely to render the government powerless to do so that the founders wrote it.
Obewon July 27th, 2014 at 20:25
Always keep your “arms” and fingers inside the car at all times. SCOTUS also proved you can’t have “well regulated”-2 A machine guns, grenades, Automatic weapons, outlawed weapons, a Bazooka, Nuclear, Chemical & Bio weapons, rocket launchers, etc.
In fact SCOTUS Heller’s D.C. decision mandates any prospective D.C. gun owner pass annual background checks, REGISTER their gun annually and pay any fees as well to prove that you’re not barred by Federal Law from gun humping as an adjudicated crazy, Felon, Dishonorably Discharged Veteran, DHS watchlisted/suspected terrorist, or non-US citizen too. Now go blow your balls off. Boom!
Brian July 28th, 2014 at 11:33
The Slave Patrol thing is almost correct.
The word Nation was replaced with the word State in order to convince Virginia to ratify the Second Amendment. The Founders always intended the Amendment to apply to the entire nation, but slave States wanted to codify in some way their “right” to have Slave Patrols which they defined (incorrectly) as “militias.” The Second Amendment seemed like a worthy vehicle to accomplish this so those words (Nation/State) were edited for that specific purpose.
The bottom line is that The Second Amendment was not WRITTEN to preserve slavery or even to protect Slave Patrols. The Second Amendment was WRITTEN to provide the mechanism by which We the People would defend our government and nation from foreign enemies whenever Congress declares an Act of War.
And as you said, the Slave Patrol issue, solved by changing the word “Nation” to “State,” enabled the Founders to get it RATIFIED.
Mo Reno July 28th, 2014 at 14:12
Hell, I can’t even own a pair of nunchucks, and those are most certainly “arms” under every definition of the term.
KKSD July 27th, 2014 at 20:43
Any simple reading of history shows the founders meant militia to mean able-bodied men who were to be called up for action in defense of our government, not against it as so many gun “enthusiasts” seem to think. Also, you conveniently left out the heavy emphasis on membership in the National Guard of title 10, especially defining an “Organized” militia. A habit it seems with gun defenders. Also, as we now have a standing military, the need for a citizen militia is gone. If we are to go by the Founding Fathers’ intent, then it seems by written word–see the Articles of the Confederation–that a semi-automatic in the hands of anyone was not their goal. “Well-regulated” at the time meant BOTH well-maintained (as in in proper working order) AND as regulated by the government.
By the way, I’m all for your owning all the muskets you want.
Elioron July 27th, 2014 at 21:25
A simple reading of history also shows that militias were in no way part of the government. The National Guard is part of the military and does not qualify, otherwise they couldn’t prevent people from joining.
Basic English also shows that the right wasn’t for the militia, but for the people. One reason for the people to have the right was for a militia, but that’s not the only reason.
Brian July 28th, 2014 at 11:27
Not one thing you wrote above is correct in any way.
Margie Bateman Osgood July 28th, 2014 at 02:09
If you look up regulated in the dictionary, it also means Rules and Laws, the definition that gets omitted by you guys
Brian July 28th, 2014 at 11:26
No, it isn’t. A “militia” is NOT just anyone with a pulse. And “well regulated” means joining an actual organized militia under the command of a CO. The Militia Act of 1792 illustrates clearly precisely what the Founders intended by “well regulated Militia.”
That decades of Conservative legislation undermining the original intent exists does not negate the original intent.
A little history lesson. First, the Founders didn’t want this nation to have a standing military so they wrote Article One, Section 8, Line 12 to prevent it. A Federal Government without a standing military is no threat at all, except legislatively, and we have the power of the vote for that.
In the absence of a standing military, they wrote The Second Amendment to provide the mechanism by which We the People could DEFEND our government from foreign enemies whenever Congress declares an Act of War.
It took the unconstitutional DC vs Heller Decision™ to entirely replace the context of National Defense and replace it with self-defense allowing anyone with a pulse to own virtually any guns they want for any reasons they want absent any training or responsibility intended by the actual Second Amendment.
R.J. Carter July 28th, 2014 at 12:22
“It took the unconstitutional DC vs Heller Decision…”
When did you become the check-and-balance on the Supreme Court, who is the body to determine constitutionality of laws?
MPawesome-o July 27th, 2014 at 21:29
Not that I am advocating what these guys are doing, but the well regulated militia is anyone with a gun that knows how to use it.
Brian July 28th, 2014 at 11:25
No, it isn’t. A “militia” is NOT just anyone with a pulse. The Militia Act of 1792 illustrates clearly precisely what the Founders intended by “well regulated Militia.” That decades of Conservative legislation undermining the original intent exists does not negate the original intent.
A little history lesson. First, the Founders didn’t want this nation to have a standing military so they wrote Article One, Section 8, Line 12 to prevent it. A Federal Government without a standing military is no threat at all, except legislatively, and we have the power of the vote for that.
In the absence of a standing military, they wrote The Second Amendment to provide the mechanism by which We the People could DEFEND our government from foreign enemies whenever Congress declares an Act of War.
KKSD July 27th, 2014 at 15:36
What WELL-REGULATED MILITIA do these “I can’t eat no burrito ‘less I’s got my semi with me” bozos belong to? Why do the first words of their beloved 2nd Amendment mean nothing to them?
Jeremy July 27th, 2014 at 19:57
What part of the RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed, do you not understand. Now let’s get back to the militia. Who is the militia? Title 10, US Code. Every able bodied male between the age of 17 and 45 is the Militia….. Per Current US law. Now let’s get to well regulated. The phrase “well-regulated” was in common use long before 1789, and remained so for a century thereafter. It referred to the property of something being in proper working order. Something that was well-regulated was calibrated correctly, functioning as expected. Establishing government oversight of the people’s arms was not only not the intent in using the phrase in the 2nd amendment, it was precisely to render the government powerless to do so that the founders wrote it.
Obewon July 27th, 2014 at 20:25
Always keep your “arms” and fingers inside the car at all times. SCOTUS also proved you can’t have “well regulated”-2 A machine guns, grenades, Automatic weapons, outlawed weapons, a Bazooka, Nuclear, Chemical & Bio weapons, rocket launchers, etc.
In fact SCOTUS Heller’s D.C. decision mandates any prospective D.C. gun owner pass annual background checks, REGISTER their gun annually and pay any fees as well to prove that you’re not barred by Federal Law from gun humping as an adjudicated crazy, Felon, Dishonorably Discharged Veteran, DHS watch-listed/suspected terrorist, or non-US citizen, or under a judicial “restraining order.”
“Militias” In the South were also called the “slave patrols,” and they were regulated by the states because anyone Constitutionally literate knows The 2nd Amendment was Ratified to Preserve Slavery via the slave patrols mandatory conscription of white males only, up until age 45. http://truth-out.org/news/item/13890-the-second-amendment-was-ratified-to-preserve-slavery “most southern men between ages 18 and 45 – including physicians and ministers – had to serve on the slave patrol in the militia at one time or another in their lives.”-So which Slave Patrol is “Jeremy” a member of? US NG? US Milt? I didn’t think so…
Brian July 28th, 2014 at 11:33
The Slave Patrol thing is almost correct.
The word Nation was replaced with the word State in order to convince Virginia to ratify the Second Amendment. The Founders always intended the Amendment to apply to the entire nation, but slave States wanted to codify in some way their “right” to have Slave Patrols which they defined (incorrectly) as “militias.” The Second Amendment seemed like a worthy vehicle to accomplish this so those words (Nation/State) were edited for that specific purpose.
The bottom line is that The Second Amendment was not WRITTEN to preserve slavery or even to protect Slave Patrols. The Second Amendment was WRITTEN to provide the mechanism by which We the People would defend our government and nation from foreign enemies whenever Congress declares an Act of War.
And as you said, the Slave Patrol issue, solved by changing the word “Nation” to “State,” enabled the Founders to get it RATIFIED.
Mo Reno July 28th, 2014 at 14:12
Hell, I can’t even own a pair of nunchucks, and those are most certainly “arms” under every definition of the term.
KKSD July 27th, 2014 at 20:43
Any simple reading of history shows the founders meant militia to mean able-bodied men who were to be called up for action in defense of our government, not against it as so many gun “enthusiasts” seem to think. Also, you conveniently left out the heavy emphasis on membership in the National Guard of title 10, especially defining an “Organized” militia. A habit it seems with gun defenders. Also, as we now have a standing military, the need for a citizen militia is gone. If we are to go by the Founding Fathers’ intent, then it seems by written word–see the Articles of the Confederation–that a semi-automatic in the hands of anyone was not their goal. “Well-regulated” at the time meant BOTH well-maintained (as in in proper working order) AND as regulated by the government.
By the way, I’m all for your owning all the muskets you want.
Elioron July 27th, 2014 at 21:25
A simple reading of history also shows that militias were in no way part of the government. The National Guard is part of the military and does not qualify, otherwise they couldn’t prevent people from joining.
Basic English also shows that the right wasn’t for the militia, but for the people. One reason for the people to have the right was for a militia, but that’s not the only reason.
Brian July 28th, 2014 at 11:27
Not one thing you wrote above is correct in any way.
Margie Bateman Osgood July 28th, 2014 at 02:09
If you look up regulated in the dictionary, it also means Rules and Laws, the definition that gets omitted by you guys
Brian July 28th, 2014 at 11:26
No, it isn’t. A “militia” is NOT just anyone with a pulse. And “well regulated” means joining an actual organized militia under the command of a CO. The Militia Act of 1792 illustrates clearly precisely what the Founders intended by “well regulated Militia.”
That decades of Conservative legislation undermining the original intent exists does not negate the original intent.
A little history lesson. First, the Founders didn’t want this nation to have a standing military so they wrote Article One, Section 8, Line 12 to prevent it. A Federal Government without a standing military is no threat at all, except legislatively, and we have the power of the vote for that.
In the absence of a standing military, they wrote The Second Amendment to provide the mechanism by which We the People could DEFEND our government from foreign enemies whenever Congress declares an Act of War.
It took the unconstitutional DC vs Heller Decision™ to entirely replace the context of National Defense and replace it with self-defense allowing anyone with a pulse to own virtually any guns they want for any reasons they want absent any training or responsibility intended by the actual Second Amendment.
R.J. Carter July 28th, 2014 at 12:22
“It took the unconstitutional DC vs Heller Decision…”
When did you become the check-and-balance on the Supreme Court, who is the body to determine constitutionality of laws?
MPawesome-o July 27th, 2014 at 21:29
Not that I am advocating what these guys are doing, but the well regulated militia is anyone with a gun that knows how to use it.
Brian July 28th, 2014 at 11:25
No, it isn’t. A “militia” is NOT just anyone with a pulse. The Militia Act of 1792 illustrates clearly precisely what the Founders intended by “well regulated Militia.” That decades of Conservative legislation undermining the original intent exists does not negate the original intent.
A little history lesson. First, the Founders didn’t want this nation to have a standing military so they wrote Article One, Section 8, Line 12 to prevent it. A Federal Government without a standing military is no threat at all, except legislatively, and we have the power of the vote for that.
In the absence of a standing military, they wrote The Second Amendment to provide the mechanism by which We the People could DEFEND our government from foreign enemies whenever Congress declares an Act of War.
Anomaly 100 July 27th, 2014 at 15:53
Don’t troll out moderators. They’re here voluntarily.
Continue bloviating, thank you!
Brendan Bassett July 28th, 2014 at 14:21
should moderators be jeering people?
danah gaz July 28th, 2014 at 18:29
Yes.
Brendan Bassett July 29th, 2014 at 14:34
and this ‘moderating’ achieved its objective by provoking a comment that had to be deleted? Fighting fires with flammable liquids seems a little shortsighted.
mea_mark July 29th, 2014 at 14:40
You really shouldn’t criticize the moderators much if you want your comments to remain posted. We might delete just because.
Brendan Bassett July 29th, 2014 at 14:42
So in your case it is, essentially, bullying.
danah gaz July 29th, 2014 at 14:42
*hands you a tissue*
Brendan Bassett July 29th, 2014 at 14:44
please translate.
danah gaz July 29th, 2014 at 14:45
It’s no fun watching a grown man whine.
If you’re going to continue, please cry into this jar.
I collect male tears.
Brendan Bassett July 29th, 2014 at 14:48
No, I assure you, I’m pmsl at you folks.
danah gaz July 29th, 2014 at 14:52
Sure thing cupcake.
Hey mods? It might be a good idea to take out the trash. He just tacitly admitted he’s here to troll.
meconiummm August 5th, 2014 at 17:35
You’re still trolling and doing a lot of name calling.
danah gaz August 13th, 2014 at 12:14
Cry for me.
Anomaly 100 August 4th, 2014 at 09:28
I think I love you.
meconiummm August 5th, 2014 at 17:34
Now you are trolling, but you are trolling for righteousness.
danah gaz July 29th, 2014 at 14:42
Short sighted indeed. This Brendan character is hilarious.
danah gaz July 29th, 2014 at 14:53
Brendan just tacitly admitted he’s here to troll, if you didn’t catch it below.
Not telling you how to do your job – but just sayin – in case you missed it.
meconiummm August 5th, 2014 at 17:32
Are you familiar with the Stanford Prison Experiment?
mea_mark August 5th, 2014 at 17:47
It’s been years but what is your point?
Vincent August 29th, 2014 at 00:27
Censorship. Great job communist.
mea_mark August 29th, 2014 at 12:28
It is not so much censorship as it removing vile filth, which usually but not always comes from those on the right. My original comment was really kinda snarky, I guess it just goes over some peoples heads. It really should be quite obvious that bad mouthing and criticizing ones host can lead to problems but then again some people have a hard time with the obvious.
danah gaz July 29th, 2014 at 14:41
Do you know what seems even more short sighted?
Trying to lecture the moderators of a board on what they can and can’t do. Moderators can join in on comments as well. Your paternalistic nonsense just makes me laugh in your general direction. Get a hobby, dad.
meconiummm August 5th, 2014 at 17:36
You sound like a gun nut.
Vincent August 29th, 2014 at 00:26
Its called ethics. Is it ethical to be the moderator of a so-called open discussion/debate when the person filtering and deleting is also advocating for one side? Kinda makes it a one sided argument. Like a man with one leg in an ass kicking competition. Its no longer a fair and balanced debate. You lose your arguments when the only way to win in censorship of the opposition. But I guess thats life in the ObamaNation. Censor all opposition to your radical agenda.
danah gaz August 29th, 2014 at 01:59
Well when you run your own website, and pay for it’s hosing, you can decide how it’s moderated. Fancy that.
Anomaly 100 August 4th, 2014 at 09:27
Except you don’t see the deleted and pending comments. We do.
Brendan Bassett August 5th, 2014 at 09:45
I realize that the Internet is full of crazy people and that moderating is a difficult and thankless task. I was just trying to point out that less is sometimes enough. It’s possible to tell someone to be more concise without jeering them.
For another moderator to say that people who disagree will be blocked….do you think that’s right?
It must be hard to live in a countrywhere something like advocating a modern health care system gets you called a communist, but when all discussion is pushed to the extremes, the only winners are those who want to control. As the French say, bon courage.
Anomaly 100 August 5th, 2014 at 10:44
The mods are also our readers. I jump in the comments when I can because I genuinely love our regulars here. They make me smile and LOL every single day without fail.
LOLOLZ July 27th, 2014 at 16:59
So, an open carry on a populace that already knows we have 2nd amendment rights is providing a shield to protect liberty and freedom? Really?
All this is.. is random penis waving by random idiots with semi-automatic weapons.
The simple minded reap what they sow? How about the exponential possibility of some random idiot with his weapon accidentally discharging it in a public place? There are those of us who would rather not have to deal with guns in our faces all the time and people should be concerned of a person’s intentions when they walk into a grocery store with a deadly weapon… could they be a “patriot” or could they be a robber? Or could it possibly be some disgruntled employee about to exact revenge on their old boss? Too many ifs and possible outcomes for my liking.
Bmac July 29th, 2014 at 20:36
Exactly. Why stand up and protest for a right you have that no one tried to take away. However, now it is more likely the right will be taken away, especially if an accident occurs and people die.
PavePusher December 29th, 2014 at 00:37
Your obsession with other people’s genitalia, and your confusing them with firearms, is noted.
Get some counseling. Soon.
Anomaly 100 July 27th, 2014 at 17:28
Carla and I are friends. Is that OK with you?
In fact, I’m friends with all of our moderators.
WTF is “ewe”? Do you hate on animals, too?
Jordan Chrysler July 27th, 2014 at 19:25
These guys dont realize that a sain and rational person can use deadly force legally by holding their flrifles in the fashion shown above. They are displaying all the proper motavations needed for someone to shoot them legally. They are in a public placex displaying and brandishing assault weapons while looking intimidating. I could seriously walk up to these two pictured above, shoot them in the head, and get away with it.
Ironic that guns rights activists would be gunned down by the very thing they were advocating for?
Guest July 27th, 2014 at 21:28
Not that I am advocating what these guys are doing, but the militia is anyone with a gun that knows how to use it.
Brian July 28th, 2014 at 11:24
No, it isn’t. A “militia” is NOT just anyone with a pulse. The Militia Act of 1792 illustrates clearly precisely what the Founders intended by “well regulated Militia.” That decades of Conservative legislation undermining the original intent exists does not negate the original intent.
A little history lesson. First, the Founders didn’t want this nation to have a standing military so they wrote Article One, Section 8, Line 12 to prevent it. A Federal Government without a standing military is no threat at all, except legislatively, and we have the power of the vote for that.
In the absence of a standing military, they wrote The Second Amendment to provide the mechanism by which We the People could DEFEND our government from foreign enemies whenever Congress declares an Act of War.
It took the unconstitutional DC vs Heller Decision™ to entirely replace the context of National Defense and replace it with self-defense allowing anyone with a pulse to own virtually any guns they want for any reasons they want absent any training or responsibility intended by the actual Second Amendment.
Matthias Dankert July 27th, 2014 at 23:26
They are displaying NONE of the proper motivations for someone to legally shoot them. Their guns are over the shoulder. Their fingers are NOT on the trigger. They are NOT being pointed at anyone. Do you even KNOW the law? NO, you don’t. You also don’t know how to spell
Margie Bateman Osgood July 28th, 2014 at 02:08
Look at the bottom pic Matthias, the guy on the right most certainly DOES have his finger on the trigger, that is the pic Jordan was referring to.
Matthias Dankert July 27th, 2014 at 23:26
They are displaying NONE of the proper motivations for someone to legally shoot them. Their guns are over the shoulder. Their fingers are NOT on the trigger. They are NOT being pointed at anyone. Do you even KNOW the law? NO, you don’t. You also don’t know how to spell
Jordan Chrysler July 27th, 2014 at 19:25
These guys dont realize that a sain and rational person can use deadly force legally by holding their flrifles in the fashion shown above. They are displaying all the proper motavations needed for someone to shoot them legally. They are in a public placex displaying and brandishing assault weapons while looking intimidating. I could seriously walk up to these two pictured above, shoot them in the head, and get away with it.
Ironic that guns rights activists would be gunned down by the very thing they were advocating for?
Guest July 27th, 2014 at 21:28
Not that I am advocating what these guys are doing, but the militia is anyone with a gun that knows how to use it.
Brian July 28th, 2014 at 11:24
No, it isn’t. A “militia” is NOT just anyone with a pulse. The Militia Act of 1792 illustrates clearly precisely what the Founders intended by “well regulated Militia.” That decades of Conservative legislation undermining the original intent exists does not negate the original intent.
A little history lesson. First, the Founders didn’t want this nation to have a standing military so they wrote Article One, Section 8, Line 12 to prevent it. A Federal Government without a standing military is no threat at all, except legislatively, and we have the power of the vote for that.
In the absence of a standing military, they wrote The Second Amendment to provide the mechanism by which We the People could DEFEND our government from foreign enemies whenever Congress declares an Act of War.
It took the unconstitutional DC vs Heller Decision™ to entirely replace the context of National Defense and replace it with self-defense allowing anyone with a pulse to own virtually any guns they want for any reasons they want absent any training or responsibility intended by the actual Second Amendment.
Matthias Dankert July 27th, 2014 at 23:26
They are displaying NONE of the proper motivations for someone to legally shoot them. Their guns are over the shoulder. Their fingers are NOT on the trigger. They are NOT being pointed at anyone. Do you even KNOW the law? NO, you don’t. You also don’t know how to spell
Margie Bateman Osgood July 28th, 2014 at 02:08
Look at the bottom pic Matthias, the guy on the right most certainly DOES have his finger on the trigger, that is the pic Jordan was referring to.