American Gun Ownership Highest In 18 Years

[The Minsky Moment]

At a fundamental level, I don't "get" the fascination with guns, but really, I don't have to.  I choose to live in a society which emphasizes personal autonomy and the right of individuals to determine what ideas and the things that they value.  And since I expect that others will respect (if not agree with) my exercise of personal autonomy, it is only correct and just that I accord similar respect to that exercise by others, even if it manifests in a way that seems peculiar to me.  That is in a nutshell the basic social compact that defines America and that is why I ultimately support gun rights, regardless of whatever the Second Amendment actually means.

But there are limits of course - especially where one person's exercise of personal autonomy may harm another.  So included in the social compact is the idea that individuals must be prepared to accept reasonable limits on their exercise of personal automony in the interests of all, even if they would rather not.  So things like the sale operation of motor vehicles are subject to significant regulation.  Or the production and consumption of alchohol.  Or the sale and distribution of food.  Or the conduct of manufacturing.  Or the practice of medicine. Or dozens of other activities or products that have he potential to pose dangers or risks to others.

To what extent any of these activities should be regulated is a question for debate, because it involves the difficult task of balancing competing interests.  So there are a variety of legitimate positions that one can take along that continuum.

What is not acceptable is for one group of people to say - my particular manifestiation or exercise of personal autonomy is absolute and inviolable, and any limitation is beyond the pale.  Because that is basically another way of saying that the interests of everyone else are not worthy of any respect or consideration at all.

[derspiess]

What is not acceptable is for one group of people to say - my particular manifestiation or exercise of personal autonomy is absolute and inviolable, and any limitation is beyond the pale.  Because that is basically another way of saying that the interests of everyone else are not worthy of any respect or consideration at all.

Is anyone saying that?  It's not like the NRA nor a majority of gun owners are calling for a repeal of all existing gun laws.

There are a lot of firearms restrictions on the books and I'm fine with nearly all of them.  The only ones I can think of that I'd like to change are the federal restriction on short-barrelled (<16") rifles and the weird Ohio limitation on magazine capacity.

[Razgovory]

What is not acceptable is for one group of people to say - my particular manifestiation or exercise of personal autonomy is absolute and inviolable, and any limitation is beyond the pale.  Because that is basically another way of saying that the interests of everyone else are not worthy of any respect or consideration at all.

Is anyone saying that?  It's not like the NRA nor a majority of gun owners are calling for a repeal of all existing gun laws.

There are a lot of firearms restrictions on the books and I'm fine with nearly all of them.  The only ones I can think of that I'd like to change are the federal restriction on short-barrelled (<16") rifles and the weird Ohio limitation on magazine capacity.

Incorrect.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/05/01/alabama-lawmakers-vote-to-ignore-new-federal-gun-control-laws/

The Senate passed legislation Tuesday declaring that "All federal acts, laws, orders, rules or regulations regarding firearms are a violation of the Second Amendment." It also says federal laws in violation of the Second Amendment shall be considered null and void in Alabama. The vote was 24-6.

[derspiess]

What is incorrect?

[The Minsky Moment]

Is there any firearms regulation that NRA-ILA supports?

[11B4V]

What is not acceptable is for one group of people to say - my particular manifestiation or exercise of personal autonomy is absolute and inviolable, and any limitation is beyond the pale.  Because that is basically another way of saying that the interests of everyone else are not worthy of any respect or consideration at all.

Is anyone saying that?  It's not like the NRA nor a majority of gun owners are calling for a repeal of all existing gun laws.

There are a lot of firearms restrictions on the books and I'm fine with nearly all of them.  The only ones I can think of that I'd like to change are the federal restriction on short-barrelled (<16") rifles and the weird Ohio limitation on magazine capacity.

Incorrect.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/05/01/alabama-lawmakers-vote-to-ignore-new-federal-gun-control-laws/

The Senate passed legislation Tuesday declaring that "All federal acts, laws, orders, rules or regulations regarding firearms are a violation of the Second Amendment." It also says federal laws in violation of the Second Amendment shall be considered null and void in Alabama. The vote was 24-6.

State's Rights

I believe I posted something similar awhile back about the Missouri legislature.

[11B4V]

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/08/us/some-states-try-to-repel-new-federal-gun-laws.html?_r=0

[11B4V]

Mo. lawmaker's bill would make it a felony to propose gun control legislation

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/feb/19/mo-bill-felony-propose-gun-control-legislation/

Missouri Lawmakers Advance Gun Bills To Ban Gun Control

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/27/missouri-gun-bills_n_2776026.html

[sbr]

I thought we sorted out that states rights nonsense 150 years ago.

[merithyn]

All of which makes this comment incorrect.

It's not like the NRA nor a majority of gun owners are calling for a repeal of all existing gun laws.

[11B4V]

I thought we sorted out that states rights nonsense 150 years ago.

Apparently not 

[derspiess]

Is there any firearms regulation that NRA-ILA supports?

Yeah.  Most of the existing regulations. 

[derspiess]

All of which makes this comment incorrect.

It's not like the NRA nor a majority of gun owners are calling for a repeal of all existing gun laws.

[11B4V]

All of which makes this comment incorrect.

It's not like the NRA nor a majority of gun owners are calling for a repeal of all existing gun laws.

Democratic process at work. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.

[Razgovory]

State's Rights

I believe I posted something similar awhile back about the Missouri legislature.

Yes, we had the same issue in Missouri.  States don't actually don't have rights as they aren't people.  They also can't nullify federal law.