Comment by Freedom2
19 hours ago
I disagree. The US has the 1st and 2nd amendments, which gives us protection from tyranny in the government, and which lets us criticize the government without repercussion. No other country grants its citizens those rights, and you can see the effects of that worldwide, where despite it all, we still have our free speech!
In the choice between being allowed to carry a gun (and having people with guns all around me) versus being offered free healthcare (and having healthier people all around me) I know not just which one I'd choose, but also which one I'd call more free.
How does the 2nd amendment protect you? Are you allowed automatic weapons, grenades? You're not even allowed swords. And if you call for violence, which is what the 2nd amendment might enable, you won't find protection via the 1st amendment.
See citizens and ICE.
Where did you get your info from? Sword ownership is legal everywhere as far as I know and you can own automatic weapons and even grenades.
Stop making stuff up.
Many jurisdictions have laws against carrying blades longer than X (it varies) and any reasonable definition of a sword would fall under that category.
In the US at least automatic weapons are nominally legal at the federal level after hefty tax stamps and background checks but states / local jurisdictions can and do regulate more / outright ban them.
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The 2nd amendment was designed to protect the 1st amendment. As for how, it was supposed to give citizens teeth against their government if it ever turned tyrannical one day. Armed citizens were one of the factors that made the American Revolution successful, which probably why so many Americans hold onto the idea.
Whatever one may think of gun control, it's clear the 2nd Amendment is on a much poorer footing.
In a number of states, you need to take a safety course before you're allowed to purchase a gun.
Compare that with the 1st amendment. If they passed laws saying "You can say whatever you want in public, but only after you've taken this course that informs you on what is acceptable and unacceptable to say in public", would you say there is free speech?
Or "You are free to practice any religion, but only after you've taken a course that ..."?
United States v. Cruikshank, 1875
> The First Amendment to the Constitution, prohibiting Congress from abridging the right to assemble and petition, was not intended to limit the action of the State governments in respect to their own citizens, but to operate upon the National Government alone.
Before the 14th Amendment, your hypothetical was quite possible at a state level.
"A well regulated Militia"
The colonies were expected to defend themselves. In reality that meant every man possessed and drilled with arms whether the were part of a formal militia or not. If there was an attack people would be "called up" to the militia. There is no requirement of belonging to a formal militia in the 2nd amendment. While times have changed, it was expectated that you were proficient with arms in the case that a formal militia was required to be formed.
It's almost like you can easily kill a vast number of people with guns but not words. Curious...
There are plenty of good reasons to ban guns altogether.
But let's not say the 1st and 2nd amendments in the same breath. One is real, and the other is much less so.
You can't possibly be this naive.
He's only 15.
That is a wonderfully naive understanding of the world.
You should ask Alex Pretti how he was able to criticize to criticize the government without repercussion.
IMO This is an even more naive (and dare I say intentionally malicious) bad-faith misinterpretation of the facts.
His death had nothing to do with the Constitution, it was because of a trigger-happy, confused cop who had his back to the guy, then noticed a gun next to him (that another officer previously put there). The US government had no part in that situation at all.
I think that's exactly the point. The constitution didn't prevent his death.
What are cops if they're not the government? Are they private corporations?
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The US government is responsible for the training of its agents. It is culpable as well.
That's kind of the point.
The constitution is just some rules people wrote up generations ago. It's not a magic spell that has power by itself, it is only effective as a social contract as long as power structures agree to follow it.
If armed government enforcers break it with impunity, what good is it?
If you can't exercise your rights without being murdered by a state sanctioned thug, then it's not really a right. Also, has he been indicted yet? charged?
Can you name a single western democracy where the citizens are prohibited from criticizing their government?
France just banned protesting
France just banned rioting
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Didn't the USA also? I seen to remember that in Florida they passed a law that says you can run over protestors with your car.
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No they didn't.
> Under French law and Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), authorities may prohibit particular demonstrations when serious public-order risks make restrictions necessary and proportionate. They cannot impose an indiscriminate prohibition on peaceful assemblies simply because previous demonstrations have descended into violence.
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>The US has the 1st and 2nd amendments, which gives us protection from tyranny in the government
Lmao. Jim Tyranny has had what? 3 cracks at him? Hardly protection.