We’re winning
It’s a recurring theme here at SayUncle that gun rights advocates are winning. The latest is that the press has given serious coverage of the debate over whether or not to allow the carrying of arms on college campuses. That would never, ever, ever have happened ten years ago. David noticed it too. As did Sebastian:
Concealed carry reform was one of the greatest strokes of strategic brilliance the gun rights movement has ever had, and I’m not sure we’d be in the position we’re in today without.
Despite the fact that a relatively small number of people bother to get licenses to carry a concealed firearm, the impact has been substantial in terms of how public debate on gun control is framed. It has allowed us to shift the debate on this issue exlusively away from sporting uses and toward self-defense
Indeed. Now, the issue becomes one that our opposition continues to lie. For instance, they refer to said movement as arming college kids or arming everyone. Both of these arguments are strawmen. No one is arming anyone. No one is arming college kids. Our argument is that someone who is otherwise lawfully allowed to carry a firearm at other places should also be allowed to carry on a college campus. Someone who is otherwise lawfully allowed to carry a firearm is 21 (i.e., not a college kid), law-abiding, and already armed. No one is arming them. The other side has to reframe our argument in an attempt to make it look silly. They have to cheat to win.
Jay has a novel solution to gun violence on college campuses.
ABC notes that democrat presidential candidates do not have a solution. And by solution, ABC means gun control.
One state lawmaker in Illinois is pushing for concealed carry laws. Illinois is one of two states with no concealed carry provisions.
February 18th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Today an AZ legislative committee will consider a bill that would allow CCW permit holders to carry at schools. This a year after Castle Doctrine was signed into law by a Democratic governor. We’re making progress here.
February 19th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/crim/242fin.htm
DEPRIVATION OF RIGHTS UNDER COLOR OF LAW
Summary:
Section 242 of Title 18 makes it a crime for a person acting under color of any law to willfully deprive a person of a right or privilege protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.
For the purpose of Section 242, acts under “color of law” include acts not only done by federal, state, or local officials within the their lawful authority, but also acts done beyond the bounds of that official’s lawful authority, if the acts are done while the official is purporting to or pretending to act in the performance of his/her official duties. Persons acting under color of law within the meaning of this statute include police officers, prisons guards and other law enforcement officials, as well as judges, care providers in public health facilities, and others who are acting as public officials. It is not necessary that the crime be motivated by animus toward the race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin of the victim.
The offense is punishable by a range of imprisonment up to a life term, or the death penalty, depending upon the circumstances of the crime, and the resulting injury, if any.
TITLE 18, U.S.C., SECTION 242
Whoever, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, willfully subjects any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States, … shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if bodily injury results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnaping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.