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I'm sick of politicians.
Democrats and Republicans continually prove themselves to be thinly-disguised collectivist sell-outs, and third parties haven't managed to make a dent in the status quo.
Historian (and influence on Bill Clinton at Georgetown) Carroll Quigley laid it out for us in Tragedy & Hope: A History of the World in Our Time:
The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and policies, one, perhaps, of the Right and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to the doctrinaire and academic thinkers. Instead, the two parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can “throw the rascals out” at any election without leading to any profound or extreme shifts in policy.
I've seen nothing but confirmation of this, particularly with outright subversion of the Second Amendment in some cases and calculated opportunistic betrayals in others.
I play the game to fulfill a moral obligation to use every possible peaceful avenue of self-protection available.
Very cynical...certainly not very productive.
So when a friend in Texas wrote that he'd found a candidate for Congress who looked pretty good on guns, I checked out the campaign website. It was pretty much "I strongly support the Second Amendment" boilerplate interspersed with assurances that the candidate comes from a hunting family.
If you think about it, that's pretty much what John Kerry told us.
Long story short: A few years back, I developed a political questionnaire to help pin down the double-speak and weasel words that are the norm. It's past time for people who would presume to represent us to show us they understand what our rights are. I expect them to consider the right to keep and bear arms not as an embarrassing lip service requirement, but as an enshrined unalienable right. I don't want them just to defend it, I want them to know how and why to proudly champion it.
Here it is. Consider using it to pin down the next fork-tongued glad-hander who solicits you for support. And let them know you intend to make their answers--or lack of response--available to every gun owner within your sphere of influence:
1. Do you believe that the Constitution is the "supreme law of the land" and that the Bill of Rights acknowledges our birthrights?
2. If so, should these rights be proactively protected from infringement by all levels of government, including city, county and state?
3. Please give some examples of gun laws you consider constitutional.
4. Please give some examples of gun laws you consider unconstitutional.
5. Does the right to bear arms include the right for any peaceable citizen to carry them concealed without a permit, as in Vermont?
6. Do you believe that Americans have a right to own, use and carry weapons of military pattern, and will you use the prestige of elected office to publicly promote that right?
7. Do you support or oppose registration of weapons? Why?
8. Do you support or oppose licensing requirements to own or carry firearms?
Why?
9. What specific gun laws will you work to get repealed?
10. If elected, will you back your words of support for firearms rights up with consistent actions? How?
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Another questionnaire
Regulars will probably recognize some of the questions above. I asked very similar ones of NRA Board of Directors candidates. Perhaps if more members had, we wouldn't have as much to complain about.
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Another approach altogether
Albuquerque Libertarian Examiner Kent McManigal sent me the link to "Aaron's Big Fat and Deadly Political Party Rant."
He's thrown politics out of the equation altogether. It's wickedly funny and insightful, but consider yourself warned that he does not hold back on colorful language.
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Maybe not such a bad thing?
Oregon Firearms Federation tells us the defeat of the Thune amendment "may not be the worst thing that can happen to us."
Click here for their analysis.
Comments
I take a slightly more hands on approach, and ask only one question. In person. But, then, our political system here in New Hampshire lends itself a lot more to this sort of thing than most places. I try to do this right after we shake hands if possible.
"<insert name of candidate>, I carry a gun every day for self defense, including today. Does that worry you?"
You can learn a LOT about a candidate from their reaction. The best answer I've gotten yet, from one of my neighbors who is now a state rep, was "I hope it's a REAL calibre, not a 22 or 32."
I could answer all of those questions favorably, but it's partially BECAUSE of that, and the thought that such ideas are "extremist" that would keep me from ever being elected.
Everytime I get to ask candidates, at any level, a question, I ask "How many rights does the US Constitution and Bill of Rights grant?" Unless they answer zero promptly I know that they don't understand the US Constitution and I make sure the people/reporters around me know that and why.
How does it go?
"I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!" (Barry Goldwater)
The judgement of what is an extreme view on the subject of RKBA has moderated quite a bit in the past few years, thanks to the hard work of people like David Codrea - and us. And always keep in mind L Neil Smith's observation:
"If you're not a little bit uncomfortable with your position, it isn't radical enough. How can you be too principled? Take the most extreme position you can -- you're claiming territory you won't have to fight for later, mostly against your "allies"."
I also ask them what guns they personally own, and what shooting sports, or hunting they enjoy.
I love the questionairre. We need to make contracts up for the entire Bill of Rights, and if they betray us by introducing legislation that violates that contract, it's an AUTOMATIC DEATH SENTENCE.
Yeah, the lack of a penalty if they violate the Bill of Rights really is the weakness of the whole system. I argued with a lawyer friend about the oath of office vociferously at one point. My take on it is that since they're required to take the oath of office, we ought to be able to prosecute them for violating it. But try finding a court that would do anything about it, 'cuz the judge and every other officer of the court is just as guilty as anybody you'd try to bring before them.
zach wrote:
"if they betray us by introducing legislation that violates that contract, it's an AUTOMATIC DEATH SENTENCE"
Some have asserted that the U.S. Constitution could be improved upon with a Fourth Branch of Government, the Enforcers.
There was an example of this role in "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End". Rolling Stone Keith Richards played Captain Teague Sparrow, the Keeper of the Code.
It is pretty clear that was the original intention of the Second Amendment - with the whole of the people in the role you envision. Problem is, things like the Hamilton-Burr duel, the Whiskey Rebellion, and the Civil War redefined the concept of patriotism in most people's mind from defense of liberty and the Constitution to defense of the federal system, thus de-legitimizing direct violent action as a means of political expression.
To a large degree, we're now victims of the success of the brilliant system bequeathed us by the Founders. "Working within the system" really WAS far more reasonable than taking up arms so long as enough of those in politics remained honorable and virtuous.
Whether we have reached the point where that cost benefit analysis yields a different result is going to be a judgement call by every patriot. And for obvious reasons it is probably not a good idea to announce your conclusions save by demonstration.
Any infringement on 2A ultimately leads to government killing their own. Any doubters, please watch this short documentary.
"Innocents Betrayed - The History of Gun Control PT 1" on youtube.
My question is:
Can you quote, or at least paraphrase the Preamble to the Bill of Rights?
Most don't even know the Bill of Rights HAS a Preamble...
David the reason these politicians are collectivist and sell-outs is simple they don’t work for the people or represent the Bill of Rights.
They are bought and paid for by Wall-Street.
That said there’s still a glimmer of hope because of what I’ve read, the politicians are scared right now because of the anger in the country.
After-all Ron Paul has 260 co-sponsors on his auditing the Fed Bill.
We still have a chance to stop Sotomayor.
Devvy Kidd has learned that she was involved in judicial misconduct in the DeLano case, 06-4780-bk, CA2, and lied to the senate about her involvement in the case
Devvy believes that the confirmation of Sonia was delayed because of this judicial misconduct coming out.
newswithviews (dot) com/Devvy/Kidd457.htm
If a politician will sell out one amendment, they will sell them all out. Such a politician has no business anywhere near legislation. It is as simple as that.
George Copeland
National RNC Examiner
www.copelandweb.com
Hunter,
"[T]he lack of a penalty if they violate the Bill of Rights...", sounds a bit like L. Neal Smith; he advocates 'enforcement' of the constitution, particularly with regard to those who take an oath to uphold and defend it.
EOTIS
Aye, L Neil has had that one right for a long time. The tools are there in the present law to cause some serious heartburn for the "Men Who Would Be Kings", but it ain't gonna be cheap. Or probably possible, since their partners in crime wearing the black robes tend to cover for them. But ya ain't gonna win a hand with no cards.
Please Remeber what the British were trying to do when "The shot heard around the world" was fired. They were after the militia's powder and shot as a for of gun control. "WE" would not stand for it then, why should we stand for it now? And for the Milita argue ment, the Mass Militia was "formed" in 1628/29... Plus the fact, by FEDERAL LAW, there is a national Milita and has been for atleast 106 years.
Do you have the results of the questionnaire you did on gun rights with the NV candidates? I could not find them. If you have them, could you please e-mail me?
Thanks,
JZ
jzylon--look below the Digg widget at the bottom of this column--there are categories in "More about", including political questionnaire. Click on that and you'll get a page linking to every related article including ones that have responses.
10. If elected, will you back your words of support for firearms rights up with consistent actions? How?
might be better as:
10. If elected, will you back-up your words of support for firearms rights with consistent actions? How?
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