Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - "Assault Weapons" Confiscation Turn Violent in Boston

kutulu · 07-08-2004, 11:16 AM

Although I believe in the 2nd Amendment there has to be limits placed on it. We have established limits on just about all of the other rights granted by the BOR:

1. You can't yell "fire" in a movie theater
3. Child pornography is not allowed
3. Pornography can be deemed "obscene"
4. The FCC can enforce arbitrary "descency standards"

That's just 4 general examples of limits to the 1st Amendment, there are many others. They were not part of the original constitution because they were not considered to be an issue at the time or techology was not developed that would be relevant to the issue. Just about every other Amendment has it's own limitations. Why should the 2nd Amendment be any different?

When establishing a limit to the 2nd Amendment, two key issues need to be addressed. To what extent would this weapon be used for self defense or sporting and how much collateral damage can result from the use of this weapon or its ammunition?

When you consider high power weapons capable of firing ammunition at a high rate you put people who are not involved in your dispute at a higher risk. It only takes one well placed shot to kill an attacker. Obviously more than one shot may be necessary but if you fire 30 rounds at someone there's 20 something rounds extra that have the ability to harm people that are not involved in your dispute. Your life is no more valuable that the other innocent person on the street or in their house.

Explosive devices are also way beyond the realm of self defense and sporting.

What about the people that just flip out one day and start shooting people at random? Right now people who do that are usually limited to handguns and rifles. What if next time it's some psycho with MP5's and a bag full of grenades?

If M-60's are available to the general public, what's to keep a team of bank robbers from setting up machine gun nests in case the cops get there before they leave?

I understand that the term "assault rifle" is poorly defined. That needs to be addressed. However the 2nd Amendment is like all the other Amendments with respect to how limits may need to be placed as time and technology advances.

07-08-2004, 11:16 AM	#42 (permalink)
kutulu Junkie	Although I believe in the 2nd Amendment there has to be limits placed on it. We have established limits on just about all of the other rights granted by the BOR: 1. You can't yell "fire" in a movie theater 3. Child pornography is not allowed 3. Pornography can be deemed "obscene" 4. The FCC can enforce arbitrary "descency standards" That's just 4 general examples of limits to the 1st Amendment, there are many others. They were not part of the original constitution because they were not considered to be an issue at the time or techology was not developed that would be relevant to the issue. Just about every other Amendment has it's own limitations. Why should the 2nd Amendment be any different? When establishing a limit to the 2nd Amendment, two key issues need to be addressed. To what extent would this weapon be used for self defense or sporting and how much collateral damage can result from the use of this weapon or its ammunition? When you consider high power weapons capable of firing ammunition at a high rate you put people who are not involved in your dispute at a higher risk. It only takes one well placed shot to kill an attacker. Obviously more than one shot may be necessary but if you fire 30 rounds at someone there's 20 something rounds extra that have the ability to harm people that are not involved in your dispute. Your life is no more valuable that the other innocent person on the street or in their house. Explosive devices are also way beyond the realm of self defense and sporting. What about the people that just flip out one day and start shooting people at random? Right now people who do that are usually limited to handguns and rifles. What if next time it's some psycho with MP5's and a bag full of grenades? If M-60's are available to the general public, what's to keep a team of bank robbers from setting up machine gun nests in case the cops get there before they leave? I understand that the term "assault rifle" is poorly defined. That needs to be addressed. However the 2nd Amendment is like all the other Amendments with respect to how limits may need to be placed as time and technology advances. Last edited by kutulu; 07-08-2004 at 11:18 AM..