Those of us who understand and value our unalienable, constitutionally-protected right to keep and bear arms often use this argument regarding gun control:
Gun “laws” don’t work because criminals don’t obey the law!
This seems like a logical argument since criminals, by the very definition of the word, ignore and break the law. Synonyms for criminal include lawbreaker, crook, offender and wrongdoer among others.
Of course we’re not saying that we don’t need laws, we’re just saying that additional laws won’t stop criminals – who by definition are already breaking the law – from breaking the law.
Many people agree with this line of thinking, but apparently only when it comes to gun control.
Example: Several members of the Ohio General Assembly – including some of the more liberty-minded members – support calling for an Article V convention for the purpose of passing an amendment to the Constitution. Ohio HJR 3 calls for an amendment which “shall provide that an increase in the federal debt requires approval from a majority of the legislatures of the separate states”.
The criminals in Washington DC aren’t following the law (the Constitution), so let’s pass another law (add an amendment to the Constitution).
This sounds familiar…where have I heard this argument?
The Constitution is not the problem. The problem is that those in Washington DC (as well as elsewhere) simply refuse to adhere to the Constitution. Would Washington DC’s rampant constitutional infidelity suddenly end with the passing of a new amendment?
Seems unlikely to me.
Making crime illegal isn’t the solution.
State & Local nullification of unconstitutional federal “laws” is a much more viable path to stopping DC’s perpetual lawbreaking. Founders who would agree with me include Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and George Nicholas to name a few.
Washington DC will never fix itself.
- Ohio Bill Takes on all Federal Attempts to Implement More Gun Control - February 12, 2016
- Gun Control and the Constitution: There are No Exceptions to “Shall Not Be Infringed” - October 27, 2015
- Kentucky Bill Would Nullify All Federal Gun Control - October 12, 2015