Let Freedom Ring
In my many years I have come to a conclusion
that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm,
and three or more is a congress
--John Adams
While one who sings with his tongue on fire
Gargles in the rat race choir
Bent out of shape from society's pliers
Cares not to come up any higher
But rather get you down in the hole
That he's in
--It's Alright, Ma, Bob Dylan
________________
The Big Lie in the Phony War on Terror (PWOT ©) is that our soldiers are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan to protect our freedoms. That is the official cover story, they're sticking with it, and we buy it every time. Except it is not true.
Here is a little story of un-freedom right here in River City (Quincy, FL). The owner of a local car dealership is an avid gun collector, who buys, sells and trades guns. He does not sell the guns at his car dealership, but as a collector at local gun shows.
This activity came under the rubric "freedom," until the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) and congress started playing with the 2nd Amendment. As a result, a non-licensed collector is now arrested for his pastime of buying and selling guns.
Guns are now a hot-button topic, but the bottom line is: Are we free men or not, beholden to a Constitution which has served us well for over 200 years. The following facts argue against it --
A right is not a right if one must spend money to exercise that right. It is illegal to charge a citizen for the right to exercise his franchise, so why must we pay to exercise our gun rights?
Can you spell I-N-F-R-I-N-G-E?
that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm,
and three or more is a congress
--John Adams
While one who sings with his tongue on fire
Gargles in the rat race choir
Bent out of shape from society's pliers
Cares not to come up any higher
But rather get you down in the hole
That he's in
--It's Alright, Ma, Bob Dylan
________________
The Big Lie in the Phony War on Terror (PWOT ©) is that our soldiers are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan to protect our freedoms. That is the official cover story, they're sticking with it, and we buy it every time. Except it is not true.
Here is a little story of un-freedom right here in River City (Quincy, FL). The owner of a local car dealership is an avid gun collector, who buys, sells and trades guns. He does not sell the guns at his car dealership, but as a collector at local gun shows.
This activity came under the rubric "freedom," until the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) and congress started playing with the 2nd Amendment. As a result, a non-licensed collector is now arrested for his pastime of buying and selling guns.
Guns are now a hot-button topic, but the bottom line is: Are we free men or not, beholden to a Constitution which has served us well for over 200 years. The following facts argue against it --
- Individuals must pay a $5.00 background check every time they legally purchase a firearm. (The background check in Florida is waived if one possesses a Concealed Weapon permit. Cost: $135 for the permit, and $130 for the required weapons handling course.)
- All firearms manufactured in the U.S. pay a manufacture tax of 12%, which is obviously passed on to us Free Men. One wonders if the manufacturers of voting booths pay an equivalent tax.
A right is not a right if one must spend money to exercise that right. It is illegal to charge a citizen for the right to exercise his franchise, so why must we pay to exercise our gun rights?
Can you spell I-N-F-R-I-N-G-E?
Labels: 2nd amendment, gun rights, poll tax
posted by rangeragainstwar at 8:02 PM
11 Comments:
It's even worse up here in the Socialist Republic of New York State.
When my wife and I first moved up here we lost our pair of matching .357 revolvers. What happened was I shot a rabid raccoon that had taken up residence in the - then empty - stables.
I mentioned this to a cop who lives down the road and who had stopped by to visit. He asked, "what did you shoot it with" and I responded truthfully (and with niave ignorance), "why a .357, my wife and I both have one". So he responds, "do you guys have permits to own those?". I had no idea, having moved here from "Out West", what the hell he was talking about........well the long and short of it is the cop turned decidely un-neighborly and demanded I surender the revolvers until such time that we proper permits. You have no idea what the cost and paper work is to get that permit. It can take up to two years for processing, you have to have 5 people vouch for you and your character and, of course there are all kinds of fees and charges.
There is no 2nd ammendment right in NY state. People up here are a bunch of overly domesticated sheep. They gladly give up their rights for the illusion of living in a safe herd.
I'm glad I didn't tell him about the 9mm Makarov or the .45 auto (ha ha ha).
Avedis
"A right is not a right if one must spend money to exercise that right."
No argument here. Although, I remember having to go through the local NRA Hunter Safety Course before I could get my small game license as a young teenager. Had to cough up the $$ out my own pocket, too.
"The background check in Florida is waived if one possesses a Concealed Weapon permit. Cost: $135 for the permit, and $130 for the required weapons handling course."
Is the fee waived for the weapons handling course if you're a veteran? I think it is here.
What I meant to say is if you can prove that you're a veteran you don't have to go through a weapons handling course for a CCW permit. Sorry.
I know I'm stepping off into the minefield but hell, I'm an idiot, so here goes;
What's the difference between these permits and the permit I have to have to practice my trade? Or the one I need to drive, or fly an airplane, or operate heavy machinery, or drive a commercial truck? I pay for those rights all the time. Part of the cost of civil society, paying taxes on stuff...
I see the point of eliminating the fee for voting given the rotten history of the poll tax, but the Second Amendment simply says you have the right to keep and bear the thing, not to be free from taxes on it, or, for that matter, to get it for free, which is what you pay for your vote...
The mess of conflicting state gun laws is just that...a mess. And if I thought it'd really help keep one person from killing another with a handgun I'd be all for 'em. But as it is - and I know you feel strongly about this, Jim - yeah, it sucks, but these second amendment posts always strike me as "something we can get around to after we've unfucked the other 537 things the U.S. has managed to screw the pooch on lately", starting with the Establishment clause of the First, the Fourth, Sixth and Eighth...
FDChief,
First off, I am all for contributing taxes for the purpose of building a better civil society. I do not mind a little user fee here or a permit processing fee there. I wouldn't even gripe about the income tax if it was being used for producing something good here at home rather than endless war in faraway places. I cannot understand how hardcore libertarians maintain the positions that they do.
That being said, the Constitution does not guarantee the right to be a dentist and, therefore, I think that cost of board exams and various official permits that allow a dentist to practice are in a different arena that taxes on those things that are specifically guaranteed, like gun ownership, free speach, etc.
You may not personally value gun ownership as much as JIm (or myself). But we, as a citizenry, cannot allow current popular opinion to erode any of our rights. Today guns are on the out, perhaps tomorrow its freedom of speech.
How would feel about having to pay to obtain a permit that allows you to be free from warrantless searches?
My view is that we shouldn't compromise one iota with any of the amendments.
And, I think in some states, like NY, the number and cost of the hoops one has to jump through to be permitted to do what is a fundemental right by law is a defacto denial of that right. Needing people to vouch for my character just so I can do what is my birthright as a US citizen? This is going gone way too far. Mind you, this is just to won a handgun; not to carry concealed or anything like that.
Avedis
Barca,
You are correct-a vet with a dd214 certifying weapons qualification gets a waiver on the course but not on the fee.
The Hunters Safety Courses were pushed thru by the NRA and rightly so. This is not an infringement on gun ownership since it pertains to licensing for hunting which is a valid government action. You can own the gun but can't hunt with it until proven to be a safe bearer of arms. I also favor accuracy testing to peserve wildlife from unskilled hunters.
jim
jim
Avedis,
Simply sell your pistols to me and i'll transfer them to Fl and will give you visitation rights.
jim
FD Chief,
This post is not about guns per say but rather about the concept that my Army is fighting for my freedoms in the PWOT.
This was my way to say bullshit.
jim
It's crazy -- here in Alabama it costs us $22.00 in CASH every year just to exercize our 2nd Amendment Civil Liberty to keep and bear arms. Compared to many other states, that doesn't sound too bad but OTOH, it IS a Civil Liberty... isn't it?
GTL,
It especially chaffs my ass that we vets that carry DVA and military retired id's must pay to get background checks. This is not a legal point but rather simply an emotional reactive posture. We were good enuf to carry weapons for the government but now our quals are in question. BTW Maj. Hasan passed a background check so this is a two edged sword.
Bottom line is that gun control is garbage. My friend FD Chief at Milpub/ Graphic Firing Table supports any controls IF it will save just 1 life. My position is that the Constitution isn't about saving lives but rather saving rights. Are we to believe that the Founding Fathers didn't know that armed citizens would kill each other?? All Freedoms have a down side- either one supports them or not. You can't have it both ways. To people like Chief that I totally respect let's say- I'll gladly give up my firearms when the government disarms it's massive agent structure. This won't happen.
jim
Well said and a hearty AMEN, brother!
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