A perversion of the Second Amendment
Left-wingers are trying to redefine the Second Amendment. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) are moving forward on new gun-control ideas, while allies are making the flawed argument that the left-wing respects the self-defense rights of all Americans. Don’t believe the doublespeak.
Lautenberg has introduced S. 3458, a bill to ban ammunition sales over the Internet, force ammunition dealers to get government licenses and establish a government-maintained list of people who buy large amounts of ammunition. Sen. Lautenberg has been joined by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) in this effort to further restrict Second Amendment rights. A similar effort is being made by Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) in the House.
The left is changing its rhetoric to claim that restricting gun rights is consistent with the Second Amendment. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), an avowed enemy of gun rights, took to the Senate floor last week to argue that “those on my side who believe strongly in some controls on guns have to acknowledge that there is a right to bear arms,” as quoted in CQ. He then went on to say that the right to self-defense is not broad and can be restricted by Congress.
Liberals are pretending like they respect the Second Amendment while acting as if it simply safeguards the rights of hunters and target shooters. Actually, the purpose of the Second Amendment is to safeguard a natural civil right of all Americans to protect themselves from harm. The Democrats’ new gun-grabbing legislation will face strong opposition from members of the House and Senate, and with many members of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Brian Darling is Senior Fellow for Government Studies at The Heritage Foundation (heritage.org).
