Amendment II Democrats, a pro-gun rights Democratic group, will be organizing as a caucus at the Texas Democratic Party State Convention to be held this June in Austin. Democratic gun owners are hoping to win adoption of the following resolution which is being presented at party precinct caucuses around the State of Texas this evening.
Resolution in Support of the Second Amendment Rights of Law-Abiding Texans
Courtesy of Amendment II Democrats:
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS OF LAW-ABIDING TEXANS
WHEREAS, in the case of US vs. Emerson, the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled, on October 16, 2001, that "to give the Second Amendment's preamble its full and proper due there is no need to torture the meaning of its substantive guarantee into the collective rights or sophisticated collective rights model which is so plainly inconsistent with the substantive guarantee's text, its placement within the bill of rights and the wording of the other articles thereof and of the original Constitution as a whole," thus affirming that the "well-regulated Militia" enumerated in the Second Amendment does not restrict private ownership of firearms to collective state militias such as the National Guard, and
WHEREAS, in the same case of US vs. Emerson, the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals further affirmed that "the right of individual Americans to keep, carry, and acquaint themselves with firearms does indeed promote a well-regulated militia by fostering the development of a pool of firearms-familiar citizens that could be called upon to serve in the militia," and that "All of the evidence indicates that the Second Amendment, like other parts of the Bill of Rights, applies to and protects individual Americans," and
WHEREAS, the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 contained provisions banning sales of numerous semi-automatic firearms to civilians based almost solely on an arbitrary list of safety features found on such firearms, and
WHEREAS, support by Democratic Party legislators for the firearms ban contained in the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 has eroded support for Democratic candidates across America and exacerbated confusion in the general public concerning the stance of Democrats on gun legislation, and
WHEREAS, it has not been conclusively demonstrated that the provisions for the firearms ban in the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 have had any measurable success in reducing violent crime rates within the United States of America since passage of the Act, and
WHEREAS, the firearms ban provisions of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 have been allowed to expire on September 13, 2004,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party urges the Democratic Congressional delegation from Texas to draft and support legislation to reaffirm our commitment to protection and defense of the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution, including the Second Amendment;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Texas Democratic Party urges the Democratic Congressional delegation from Texas to oppose attempts to enact or reauthorize any ban on the sale, transfer, and/or possession of semi-automatic firearms by law-abiding Texans.
Submitted to and Adopted by Precinct __ in __________ County, Texas, Senatorial District __ on March 4, 2008.
________________________________ Convention secretary
5 comments:
I know this is a bit of topic, but having lived in Europe for a while, and being a big supporter of the right to bear arms. I can actually say the crime rate here in Ireland is far lower because guns are prohibited, maybe such a policy in the USA would be a good thing?
Canada has far less violent crime than the U.S. and yet has a high gun ownership rate. Finland, Norway and Switzerland have higher rates of gun ownership (and fewer controls) than other European countries but still have low crime rates. Gun ownership is not the cause of violent crime. Banning guns will accomplish nothing. We need to focus on improving education, narrowing the gap between rich and poor, reducing substance abuse, enacting tougher penalties for violent crime, strengthening moral values and the family unit.
I never realized that about Canada or the rest of Europe but you make a good point, but I totally agree with you on improving education etc... Especially education since it will be a key competitve tool in the new 21st century global economy.
Hello. I simply wish to express the opinion. Personally very much it was pleasant to me. Continue in the same spirit.It's cool.Thanks.
Don't know about Eire, but in the UK, crime rates have gone UP, not down, since the enactment of strict gun control laws there.
People who in the USA would be no-billed in clear self-defense situations, using firearms (usually shotguns and other long-guns) to defend themselves, on their property, against violent criminals, are in turn ACTUALLY facing prosecution in the UK!
It's utter madness.
And the Scottish parliament, in reaction to a freak accidental shooting with an air rifle that killed an infant, wants even MORE restrictive controls than London!!
You'd think devolution would mean a net increase for Scottish liberty, but evidently not...the proposal in question being pushed by the SNP, no less.
You'd think the mass disarmament after Culloden would still stick in the collective memory in my ancestral home, but apparently not.
-JJR
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