Randy Barnett has a post up which is lengthy, but well worth the read, on new originalism vs. the living constitution. It does contain a little bit about the second amendment, since I know most of us are interested in that here. It amazes me how good of a litmus test your views on that particular topic are in terms of how you view not only constitutional interpretation, but on the proper relationship between a people and its government.
The Oldest Profession
Apparently New York Governor Elliot Spitzer knows it well.
Feds Chilling Free Speech Online?
Looks like it to me. I might not always agree with David’s approach to activism, but to suggest that he’s implicitly threatened anyone, or that his blogging activities might bring the wrath of federal law enforcement on him is offensive to not only the first amendment, but the very principles this country was founded on.
More on OWAA
Bitter has more on OWAA. Seems they canceled their planned event with anti-hunting and anti-gun forces. Hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts need to understand who pays for most of the wildlife management and upkeep of public lands, and it’s not them. Both hunters and shooters pay for wildlife management through the federal “Pittman Robertson” excise taxes on guns and ammunition. Next time you hear a hiker bitch about sunday hunting, remind them who pays for the trails they like to hike on.
Teaching Marksmanship
I would note that this kind of thing would be impossible if we didn’t have a vibrant civilian shooting culture. Fighting the gun banners is not just a matter of preserving our sporting heritage, and right of self-defense, it’s a matter of national security as well.
Booze With Bane
Has a nice ring to it, don’t you think? The Outdoor Channel’s Michael Bane will be providing bloggers attending the Second Amendment Blogger Bash with a happy hour. I have Comcast Cable, so sadly, I don’t get to watch Michael’s show, but for those of you who have cable providers who do not suck, you can catch his show on the Outdoor Channel.
Winning Battles, But Losing the War?
Tam talks about the Newbery Medal, which is presented for outstanding children’s books. Particularly of interest is the 1942 winner:
Thanks to a good friend, I have just finished reading the 1942 Newbery winner, a book entitled The Matchlock Gun. I can only shake my head and agree with my friend that this wonderful little tale would never survive in a modern children’s library. You see, from cover to cover the whole book would be deemed thoughtcrime in today’s America.
I can’t imagine it today either. First off, few people know what a matchlock gun is. Secondly, it’s entirely unPC. We don’t think favorably of militia service today, because it’s become associated with exploding federal buildings, thanks to the hysterical media, but back then, the idea was properly understood.
I do believe on gun rights, that we’re winning most of the political battles these days, but culturally, things aren’t what they used to be. We have a lot of challenges on that front, and it’s rough to make any progress with today’s media culture. What we can accomplish politically is dictated by the limits of the population at large, and the further we drift from stories like The Matchlock Gun, the harder it’s going to be to make real progress in restoring the second amendment back to its original meaning.
Exposed!
The VPC has uncovered our dastardly scheme!
Austrian Women Buying Guns
What’s even more interesting is that they are buying guns for self-defense. I thought self-defense was a no-no in Europe as a reason for having a firearm? Well, the Austrian women shall not go poorly armed. I don’t have any complaints about my Austrian Tupperware, and I doubt these women will find much to complain about either.
We’ll All Be Open Carrying Soon Enough
One of the things that has made me a bigger advocate of Open Carry than I have been in the past is that technology is making concealment harder and harder.
You can count on societies moving toward democratic totalitarianism to develop technologies such as this, but in some ways it’s inevitable. It will be possible in the future to have near perfect enforcement of some laws. We have to argue what kind of laws we are willing to live under.