The Big Guy
Regular Member
imported post
Vermont State Rep. Fred Maslack has read the Second Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution, as well as Vermont 's own Constitution very carefully, andhis strict interpretation of these documents is popping some eyeballs in
New England and elsewhere.
Maslack recently proposed a bill to register "non-gun-owners" and require
them to pay a $500 fee to the state. Thus Vermont would become the first
state to require a permit for the luxury of going about unarmed and assess
a fee of $500 for the privilege of not owning a gun.
Maslack read the "militia" phrase of the Second Amendment as not only the
right of the individual citizen to bear arms, but as a clear mandate to do
so. He believes that universal gun ownership was advocated by the Framers
of the Constitution as an antidote to a "monopoly of force" by the
government as well as criminals. Vermont 's constitution states explicitly
that "the people have a right to bear arms for the defense of themselves
and the State" and those persons who are "conscientiously scrupulous of
bearing arms" shall be required to "pay such equivalent.."
Clearly, says Maslack, Vermonters have a constitutional obligation to arm
themselves, so that they are capable of responding to "any situation that
may arise."
Under the bill, adults who choose not to own a firearm would be required
to register their name, address, Social Security Number, and driver's
license number with the state. "There is a legitimate government interest
in knowing who is not prepared to defend the state should they be asked to
do so," Maslack says
Vermont already boasts a high rate of gun ownership along with the least
restrictive laws of any state .. it's currently the only state that allows
a citizen to carry a concealed firearm without a permit. This combination
of plenty of guns and few laws regulating them has resulted in a crime
rate that is the third lowest in the nation.
"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the
system, but too early to shoot the bastards."
This makes sense! There is no reason why gun owners should have to pay
taxes to support police protection for people not wanting to own guns. Let
them contribute their fair share and pay their own way.
Vermont State Rep. Fred Maslack has read the Second Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution, as well as Vermont 's own Constitution very carefully, andhis strict interpretation of these documents is popping some eyeballs in
New England and elsewhere.
Maslack recently proposed a bill to register "non-gun-owners" and require
them to pay a $500 fee to the state. Thus Vermont would become the first
state to require a permit for the luxury of going about unarmed and assess
a fee of $500 for the privilege of not owning a gun.
Maslack read the "militia" phrase of the Second Amendment as not only the
right of the individual citizen to bear arms, but as a clear mandate to do
so. He believes that universal gun ownership was advocated by the Framers
of the Constitution as an antidote to a "monopoly of force" by the
government as well as criminals. Vermont 's constitution states explicitly
that "the people have a right to bear arms for the defense of themselves
and the State" and those persons who are "conscientiously scrupulous of
bearing arms" shall be required to "pay such equivalent.."
Clearly, says Maslack, Vermonters have a constitutional obligation to arm
themselves, so that they are capable of responding to "any situation that
may arise."
Under the bill, adults who choose not to own a firearm would be required
to register their name, address, Social Security Number, and driver's
license number with the state. "There is a legitimate government interest
in knowing who is not prepared to defend the state should they be asked to
do so," Maslack says
Vermont already boasts a high rate of gun ownership along with the least
restrictive laws of any state .. it's currently the only state that allows
a citizen to carry a concealed firearm without a permit. This combination
of plenty of guns and few laws regulating them has resulted in a crime
rate that is the third lowest in the nation.
"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the
system, but too early to shoot the bastards."
This makes sense! There is no reason why gun owners should have to pay
taxes to support police protection for people not wanting to own guns. Let
them contribute their fair share and pay their own way.
