In the continuing saga of the mosque planned to be built near the ground zero site in New York City, Mayor Michael Bloomberg has steadfastly defended the decision to move forward with the construction of the mosque and associated Islamic center. Toward the beginning of August, Mayor Bloomberg made an impassioned speech regarding the proposed project. Keep in mind that Mayor Bloomberg is one of the biggest opponents of gun rights (even though he reportedly employs his own armed bodyguards), but you would never know that by reading the text of his speech. Here are a few excerpts:
"Of all our precious freedoms, the most important may be the freedom to worship as we wish."
That's a fairly subjective statement. Many might believe that the most important freedom would be the Right to Keep & Bear Arms, which protects the Freedom of Religion – and every other one, too.
"The government has no right whatsoever to deny that right [the right of property owners to practice any form of religion within the structures they own]– and if it were tried, the courts would almost certainly strike it down as a violation of the U.S. Constitution. Whatever you may think of the proposed mosque and community center, lost in the heat of the debate has been a basic question – should government attempt to deny private citizens the right to build a house of worship on private property based on their particular religion? That may happen in other countries, but we should never allow it to happen here. This nation was founded on the principle that the government must never choose between religions, or favor one over another. "
True enough. But again, our nation was also founded on the principal that the Second Amendment protects the First. It is highly convenient that in this case, the decision of government agencies has supported religious (and personal) freedoms. But what if that wasn't the case? What if a tyrannical agency had decided to deny these freedoms, and ignored the will of the people? What happens then? (And don't think for an instant that tyranny doesn't exist in America. Ask the folks in West Burlington about that.)
Mayor Bloomberg went to great lengths to describe how this is America, and we must abide by the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution. Has he come to his senses and realized that the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is just as important as all of the other rights and freedoms? Probably not. But it would certainly be interesting to get thousands of people to write Hizzoner, thanking him for standing up for the Constitution, and asking him if his new found passion for Constitutional rights covers the Second Amendment.
Of course we all know what the answer will be. But it might still be fun.
Comments
It is amazing that the Mayor can pick and choose the parts of the Constitution that he supports.
What happened to the oath he took? Apparently the Mayor thinks that his life is valuable and the common citizen should rely on the Police.
What I want to know is why the fine Mayor helped get the go ahead for the GZMIC but the Greek Orthodox Church is STILL being denied its private property rights to rebuild after 9-11?
Why no reciprocity for the Greek O's?
Cheers.
I would think it's not so much about the rights protected in the Constitution but more about his buisness dealings in Dubai. Which he has now expanded after these events.
It's amazing yet disgusting he can use the freedoms protected in the Costitution to at the same time expand dealing in places where they want the Constitution replaced by sharia. Kinda like how the imam in charge of it thinks. But when your someone who won't condemn terrorist for brainwashing children and using them as suicide bombers I guess it isn't that hard ro come to those conclusions.
the mere sight of him makes me sick
It's bemusing to hear Bloomberg talk so eloquently about adhering to the U.S. Constitution, when it comes to freedom of religion, but yet, he still spits on the Second Amendment. I don't think he's had an epiphany on the 2A. Quite the contrary, he's probably musing about the future of MAIG, which had its guts torn out by SCOTUS' McDonald ruling.
No longer can Bloomberg bellow that he decides what is an "illegal gun". SAF should challenge New York City's Sullivan Act, which is as reprehensible a piece of gun-control legislation as any Daley dreamed up.
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