Yelling "FIRE" in a crowded theater
Oftentimes, those who advocate for additional "common-sense" gun-control legislation, counter the Second Amendment's prohibition against the infringement of the right of the people to keep and bear arms with a canard of the anti-gun left, that is supposed to be an end-all argument in support of limiting the scope of the Second Amendment, by comparing that to a supposed limitation on the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of speech .
Even President Obama subscribes to this particular line of "reasoning" regarding the Second Amendment.
During the presidential campaign, while addressing an Iowa group concerning his stance on gun ownership, then candidate Barack Obama inadvertantly revealed either a lack of understanding of the Bill of Rights or a contempt of the Second Amendment. Candidate Obama told the audience that he respects the right of lawful gunowners to "hunt, fish, protect their families"..., but then said,
The problem with this line of reasoning is that you can yell "FIRE" in a crowded auditorium, there just has to be a fire. See, it's not really a limitation on the First Amendment's guarantee of free speech, but a limitation to the endangerment of innocent citizens. Kind of like my right to wildly swing my arms ends at someone else's nose. The same limitations already exist pertaining to firearms ownership. While one has a right to own a firearm, that firearm owner is limited to the extent that he is prohibited from aiming that firearm at an innocent citizen. The firearm owner is limited to the extent that he is prohibited from endangering a innocent citizen.
However, just as there are times that it is permissible to yell "FIRE" in a crowded theater, there are times when it is not only permissible, but necessary to aim a firearm at a person.
As a so-called Constitutional scholar, either President Obama does not really understand what it is that is being limited, or he really does understand, he is just trying to fool as many people as possible.
Sadly, there doesn't seem to be a shortage of fools.
Quote:
You can't yell "FIRE" in a crowded theater.
During the presidential campaign, while addressing an Iowa group concerning his stance on gun ownership, then candidate Barack Obama inadvertantly revealed either a lack of understanding of the Bill of Rights or a contempt of the Second Amendment. Candidate Obama told the audience that he respects the right of lawful gunowners to "hunt, fish, protect their families"..., but then said,
Quote:
... like all rights, they are bound and restrained by the needs of the community. So... I have a right to free speech, but I can't just yell "FIRE" in this auditorium.
However, just as there are times that it is permissible to yell "FIRE" in a crowded theater, there are times when it is not only permissible, but necessary to aim a firearm at a person.
As a so-called Constitutional scholar, either President Obama does not really understand what it is that is being limited, or he really does understand, he is just trying to fool as many people as possible.
Sadly, there doesn't seem to be a shortage of fools.
Total Comments 1
Comments
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Amen! there is no shortage of the attacks that occur on the 2nd Amendment.
we are also seeing an attack on the 4th Amendment being carried out by the TSA on a daily basis. the Israeli's had had a much more serious threat to their airlines for a much longer period than we here in the USA have had.
they handle it through "profiling". but alas, that is such a dirty word here in America. the PC Left has now equated profiling to racism instead of good old "gut instinct" and common sense.
yet another way the race card is killing America...Posted 12-07-2010 at 13:57 by IQof1 
