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Gun Control. Supremacy of the 2nd Amendment. Opening Central Issue Supreme Law Status Quo Rulings Philosophies Facts Opinions Conclusion. by Justin Acres Andrew Stone BSEP: May 14, 2002. THE Central Issue.
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Gun Control Supremacy of the 2nd Amendment Opening Central Issue Supreme Law Status Quo Rulings Philosophies Facts Opinions Conclusion by Justin Acres Andrew Stone BSEP: May 14, 2002
THE Central Issue • The 2nd Amendment to the Constitution answers all questions of firearm-related issues in America • “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed” --2nd Amendment Opening Central Issue Supreme Law Status Quo Rulings Philosophies Facts Opinions Conclusion
What is the supreme law? • America is a country with claim of the Constitution as its supreme rule of law • Yet, Congress and law enforcement continually lambaste the Bill of Rights • The Supreme Court has set a precedent of Americans’ right to “Keep and Bear Arms” Opening Central Issue Supreme Law Status Quo Rulings Philosophies Facts Opinions Conclusion
Status Quo Policy • Current Attorney General John Ashcroft, on May 9, 2002, confirmed Americans’ rights to bear arms Opening Central Issue Supreme Law Status Quo Rulings Philosophies Facts Opinions Conclusion
Supreme Court Rulings • U.S. v. Miller (1939) • U.S. v. Emerson (2001) • U.S. v. Cruikshank (1876) • Presser v. Illinois (1886) • Miller v. Texas (1894) • U.S. v. Verdugo-Urquidez (1990) Opening Central Issue Supreme Law Status Quo Rulings Philosophies Facts Opinions Conclusion
Philosophies on Gun Control • The founding fathers’ intentions and wisdom are clear in surviving examples of their records at the drafting of the Constitution: Opening Central Issue Supreme Law Status Quo Rulings Philosophies Facts Opinions Conclusion • Thomas Jefferson said, "No free man shall be debarred the use of arms." • Patrick Henry said, "The great object is, that every man be armed." • Thomas Paine noted, "[A]rms . . . discourage and keep the invader and the plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property."
! Facts • Private firearms stop crime 2.5 million times per year --Dr. Gary Kleck, Florida State University • Utah, with free gun possession statewide, has one of the lowest crime rates nationwide • An armed public is less likely to be attacked than an unarmed public --NRA Opening Central Issue Supreme Law Status Quo Rulings Philosophies Facts Opinions Conclusion !
Opinions Opening Central Issue Supreme Law Status Quo Rulings Philosophies Facts Opinions Conclusion
Conclusions • Gun registration schemes inevitably lead to confiscation of firearms from law-abiding citizens and the removal of self-defense rights • Gun licensing is focused on honest citizens and therefore only penalizes and taxes those that are not responsible in any way for crime or violence Opening Central Issue Supreme Law Status Quo Rulings Philosophies Facts Opinions Conclusion
Conclusions • Gun control isn’t an option because of the Bill of Rights • Any movement to enact legislation is against the law Opening Central Issue Supreme Law Status Quo Rulings Philosophies Facts Opinions Conclusion Credits: Justin Acres, Andrew Stone, John Ashcroft, Baloo, and Habeeb.