Citizen
Founder's Club Member
While I agree that self-defense IS a fundamental human right, I do not want to see illegal aliens be given that right within our borders. Let their native countries do as they see fit. Illegal aliens are here illegally and are therefore by definition, criminals. And we don't support Second Amendment rights for criminals... at least not in whole part yet.
Oh, I see.
I think the distinction between our positions is subtle, but important.
I assume they already have the right by virtue of being alive, and that misgovernment has no power to interfer with it. I would not support granting misgovernment the power to deny the right, which is another way of saying I would not support government criminalizing gun possession by illegals.
Your position seems to say government should not openly recognize such a right. I'm basing this on the assumption you were speaking figuratively about granting a right, meaning, I'm assuming you as an experienced 2Aer fully understand government does not grant rights, thus it can only recognize them.
I would tend more towards something like this: if an illegal alien is caught, and he possesses a firearm, handle him as an illegal alien. And, ignore the gun legally speaking. Seize the gun as part of the arrest and deportation if arrest and deportation are the correct handling for that exact alien, but do not treat the gun possession as an offense. Put it right up there with breathing air and drinking water. Unless the gun was used illegally, meaning for a robbery, kidnapping, or murder. Then treat the gun the same as any other gun used in a crime, and treat the criminal misuse of the gun the same as a citizen criminal.
As a tangent, I have little support any longer for criminalizing gun use separate from the crime. For example, additional time in prison for using a gun in a robbery, as opposed to a knife. Such serves only helps vilify guns. Robbery is robbery--knife, gun, or bludgeon. Murder is murder--knife, gun, or poison. "Oh my god! He used a gun!" Oh, for Pete's sake. It was a robbery! Of course, he used a weapon! Criminalize the criminal act, not the damn weapon. This is really just an off-shoot of the idea that a gun cannot act by itself. Its just an implement.
Edited to Add the word "not" in the third section above. The underline is to call attention to which "not" was added, rather than to emphasize disagreement.
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