Will our 51st state reciprocate?

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Statkowski wrote:

oneeyeross wrote:

A few things to remember:

Puerto Ricans ARE US citizens.
Puerto Rico is a part of the US, and has been since the Spanish American War.

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Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens by act of Congress, not by birth. What Congress grants, congress can take away.

Puerto Rico is a Territory of the U.S., essentially a Colony. The U.S. Constitution applies to it, again, by act of Congress.

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Whichever way you look at it, though, in my lifetime (since at least 1955) they have been citizens of this country, so we don't have to worry about keeping them out. "Them" in this case, is us, just like Guam, Samoa, Virgin Islands, etc., etc., etc....as Yul used to say...

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oneeyeross wrote:

A few things to remember:

Puerto Ricans ARE US citizens.
Puerto Rico is a part of the US, and has been since the Spanish American War.

I have served with many Peurto Ricans, and other Hispanics, during my years in service, and have found that they have served with honor and pride - in fact, I'd have to say that they did far better than their Anglo brothers in arms.

Further, I would hope that disparaging remarks about a particular ethnic group is NOT what this group is about....

R. Fain
SSG, USA, (Ret)

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Two of the men I trust with my life were from Puerto Rico. One of them was my first squad leader. Staff Sergeant Vega. He would tell these stories about when he was a cop in Puerto Rico, and he would always use sound effects like the campy Batman shows. Combine that with his accent and it was like another language, but it was awesome. Real good guy, one of the best Soldiers I ever served with.

Anyone that will stand up and fight for the country in my eyes is more than welcome to call themselves a citizen.

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heresolong wrote:

Just read an interesting analysis which suggested that the Democrats pushed through the vote (which there is no disputing that they did) in order to try to get 6 more reliably Democrat congressmen and two more reliably Dem senators at a time when they are facing probable massive losses in the 2010 elections.

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I think is the very reason too, the timing on doing it now at this stage of politics is just too coincidental.

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I remember many years ago when GOA sent out an alert opposing this bill merely because of the above concerns about 6 new "anti-gun" congressmen and 2 anti-gun senators and such.

What does it really matter? We have an island state already called Hawaii. English is an official language in Puerto Rico. They are currently citizens who have no Congressional representation. Puerto Rico's gun laws are unconstitutional and should be attacked in federal court NOW, when they are not a state, so when they do become a state, we'll be able to get a thriving gun owner culture down there when they DO elect Congressmen and Senators.

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Gray Peterson wrote:

I remember many years ago when GOA sent out an alert opposing this bill merely because of the above concerns about 6 new "anti-gun" congressmen and 2 anti-gun senators and such.

What does it really matter? We have an island state already called Hawaii. English is an official language in Puerto Rico. They are currently citizens who have no Congressional representation. Puerto Rico's gun laws are unconstitutional and should be attacked in federal court NOW, when they are not a state, so when they do become a state, we'll be able to get a thriving gun owner culture down there when they DO elect Congressmen and Senators.

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Are they not considered a 'federal enclave' and subject to Heller?

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gogodawgs wrote:

Gray Peterson wrote:

I remember many years ago when GOA sent out an alert opposing this bill merely because of the above concerns about 6 new "anti-gun" congressmen and 2 anti-gun senators and such.

What does it really matter? We have an island state already called Hawaii. English is an official language in Puerto Rico. They are currently citizens who have no Congressional representation. Puerto Rico's gun laws are unconstitutional and should be attacked in federal court NOW, when they are not a state, so when they do become a state, we'll be able to get a thriving gun owner culture down there when they DO elect Congressmen and Senators.

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Are they not considered a 'federal enclave' and subject to Heller?

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That's what I said. I highlighted it.

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Gray Peterson wrote:

I remember many years ago when GOA sent out an alert opposing this bill merely because of the above concerns about 6 new "anti-gun" congressmen and 2 anti-gun senators and such.

What does it really matter? We have an island state already called Hawaii. English is an official language in Puerto Rico. They are currently citizens who have no Congressional representation. Puerto Rico's gun laws are unconstitutional and should be attacked in federal court NOW, when they are not a state, so when they do become a state, we'll be able to get a thriving gun owner culture down there when they DO elect Congressmen and Senators.

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It wouldn't matter if they elected libertarian or constitutional based congress men.

The Island of hawaii does neither.

2 very anti-gun and pro socialistic senators Akaka and Inouye. I don't know much about thecongress folk but going to assume fairly similar.

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sudden valley gunner wrote:

Gray Peterson wrote:

I remember many years ago when GOA sent out an alert opposing this bill merely because of the above concerns about 6 new "anti-gun" congressmen and 2 anti-gun senators and such.

What does it really matter? We have an island state already called Hawaii. English is an official language in Puerto Rico. They are currently citizens who have no Congressional representation. Puerto Rico's gun laws are unconstitutional and should be attacked in federal court NOW, when they are not a state, so when they do become a state, we'll be able to get a thriving gun owner culture down there when they DO elect Congressmen and Senators.

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It wouldn't matter if they elected libertarian or constitutional based congress men.

The Island of hawaii does neither.

2 very anti-gun and pro socialistic senators Akaka and Inouye. I don't know much about thecongress folk but going to assume fairly similar.

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But does that mean we should yank away their statehood and their federal representation in Congress? No.

We (being gun owners, legal groups, etc), have the ability to fix both states. Sykes is going to fix Hawaii, and future litigation involving AWB's and reduced capacity mags and such in CA will also fix Hawaii too. Puerto Rico will likely benefit from litigation in the First Circuit involving Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

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No it doesn't I don't feel that way just pointing the timing of this is not coincidental. I have always wondered why Puerto Rico wasn't a state and Hawaii was growing up. Until I looked into it.

Puerto Rico also has a segmant of the population who are not freindly toward the states and would want to reject statehood and favor becoming an independant country.One main reason Hawaii became a state was the immigrants of non-Hawaiian descent outnumbered the native population. There is also a huge resurgance of independence for Hawaii now. Was it right to force state hood upon thes native?

Nottrying to argue just thoughts I myself have wrestled with.

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sudden valley gunner wrote:

[...]
Puerto Rico also has a segmant of the population who are not freindly toward the states and would want to reject statehood and favor becoming an independant country.
[...]

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Sounds a lot like Micronesia.

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killchain wrote:

sudden valley gunner wrote:

[...]
Puerto Rico also has a segmant of the population who are not freindly toward the states and would want to reject statehood and favor becoming an independant country.
[...]

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Sounds a lot like Micronesia.

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...and American Samoa....and Guam...U.S. virgin Islands.....etc.

Than there are those who love being part of U.S. and the benefits that come with it, but they also don't want to give up their cultural identity.Being part nativeI sympathize with this struggle.( Side note: Hawaii has now become a hotbed of immigration for Micronesians, many locals are not liking it)