Posted by
John Caile on Saturday, May 15, 2010 1:07:57 AM
Civil rights and double standards: Gun owners are
forced to "show papers," but media say illegal aliens shouldn't have to
By Tim Inwood
I've been watching with some interest the fallout over the new
Arizona law dealing with illegal aliens. I hear the news media moaning
that the new law "makes it a crime to be an illegal alien." I'm not
joking, that is exactly how they phrased it on several networks and
cable news shows. Wow, that is what I always thought illegal
meant. I really wish the media would think about what they utter.
I hear President Obama, the ACLU and liberals in general say that to
ask someone to show identification to prove they are an American citizen
is a violation of their civil rights. These same folks, as I recall,
told us that asking someone to show ID when voting is a violation of
their civil rights as well.
So now I am a bit confused. With such a broad definition of what a
civil right is, and the slightest inconvenience in enforcing the law an
outrage, will someone please explain something to me? Why, when using
the above logic, that when exercising your civil right to buy and own a
gun you have to show identification and undergo a background check to
purchase that gun? After all, the U.S. Supreme Court told us in the
2008 Heller decision that gun ownership is a constitutionally
protected civil right.
Also, tell me why when it comes to bearing those
arms, a specifically enumerated constitutionally protected right,
we must take concealed carry classes, pay high fees and again undergo
additional background checks, fingerprinting and submit a specific size
photograph to the state to do something specifically protected by the
Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Article 1 section 4 of
Ohio's Constitution. Was not turning a right into a state-issued
privilege a violation of our rights?
As I am writing this I am watching politicians and media talking
heads saying this new law in Arizona is pure fascism and Nazi-like
demands to "show their papers." Oh really!
As a concealed handgun license-holder in Ohio, in any encounter with a
police officer I am required under penalty of law to disclose I am a
CHL-holder (if I am carrying), and then show identification. Funny how I
don't see my fellow CHL holders protesting or rioting over that.
Prior to 1968 in the United States, citizens in most states could buy
firearms via mail order with no identification. You just clipped out
the ad, told the dealer what you wanted, sent in your check and your
postal carrier delivered the gun to your door, with ammo if you ordered
that too. I am old enough to remember those days. However, all that
ended with the Gun Control Act of 1968, a law largely written by
Democrat Senator Thomas Dodd, father of current Senator Chris Dodd.
The
1968 U.S. law was largely based on a gun control law written in 1938
that Dodd Sr. learned about while serving on the staff of those
prosecuting war criminals in Nuremberg following World War II. That law
forced firearm purchasers to show identification "papers" and registry
of those arms. Who wrote this law? The National Socialist German
government! That is where we got the U.S. 1968 Gun Control Act! That is
inarguably a Nazi piece of legislation where you do have to show
"papers." So I have to ask, where is the screaming and gnashing of
teeth about that Nazi law?
Where is the media's and President Obama's outrage over this truly
NAZI violation of civil rights? I'd love to hear the tortured logic. After
all, the crime rate among American gun owners is far lower than that of
illegal aliens.
Meanwhile, let's enforce the laws and protect our borders.
[Tim Inwood is the current Legislative Liaison and Past President
of the Clinton County Farmers and Sportsmen Association, an Endowment
Member of the NRA and Life Member of the OGCA, Republican Central
Committeeman for Chester Township A, in Clinton County, Ohio, and a
volunteer for Buckeye Firearms Association.]