imported post
Sonora Rebel wrote:
Foreigners carrying? I'm against it... damned right I'm against it. We are a sovereign nation. If Canadians are OK... then Mexicans, Guatamalans, El Salvadorans, Haitians 'n who knows what else is OK. No... it ain't OK. It's our RIGHT... not theirs. Hunting and target competitions are one thing... but walkin' around heeled is something else again. We still have states where our own citizens can't do that. No... this goes beyond 'being nice'... it's being stupid.
We are a sovereign nation, yes. No question about that. And still, I don't mind non-resident aliens carrying, so long as they are in the country legally, and have the appropriate permits.
Long term I hope that every State will adopt Vermont rules and that the Federal Government will move closer to the original meaning of the 2A, so with that said, no, non-resident aliens shouldn't have the same 2A rights that the rest of us do, nor do I think that they should. Permits should be a requirement, both for open and concealed carry.
It is unreasonable to think we should throw away the basic right to self-defense with respect to non-resident aliens who are here legally.
Sonora Rebel, I have read some of your other posts, and I know some of the things that you've had to deal with personally from your accounts, particularly with respect to illegal aliens, so I can see where you might be coming from, but I believe you are overlooking the bigger picture.
A non-resident alien from any country, who is here legally, and is willing to obtain the appropriate permits, should be allowed to carry. Why not? They may be here trying to become American citizens. Should we prevent them from enjoying this basic freedom until they have sworn an oath? I don't see why that should be a preventative step. If they break the law, then they are going to do it whether we allow them to carry open or not.
Illegal aliens who wish to be "heeled" won't respect the need for a permit to carry openly for two reasons: a) they are already here illegally so breaking one more law won't really matter, and b) as an illegal they don't have the proper documentation to get a non-resident alien permit anyway.
The law-abiding shouldn't have unnecessary restrictions placed on them in order to defend themselves and their property. I believe that is true whether they are American, Zimbabwean, Russian, or Martian.