Gun Control: Rooted in racism?
Re: Gun Control: Rooted in racism?
If you want a little history lesson, check out the way Tennessee's constitution related to keeping arms evolved during the 19th century.
Re: Gun Control: Rooted in racism?
No question: gun control laws, drug control laws, many laws that are unconstitutional were designed to control one minority group or another.
Re: Gun Control: Rooted in racism?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
wa3ra
No question: gun control laws, drug control laws, many laws that are unconstitutional were designed to control one minority group or another.
That is historical fact.
Re: Gun Control: Rooted in racism?
Of course New York State's Sullivan Law was created to control the Irish and Italian immigrants that were then coming into NYC.
Re: Gun Control: Rooted in racism?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
donm
If you want a little history lesson, check out the way Tennessee's constitution related to keeping arms evolved during the 19th century.
I'll do that, thanks! Is there a particular source you could recommend? Not sure which direction to start off in.
Re: Gun Control: Rooted in racism?
I couldn't agree more with these opinions. I don't think many of today's anti-gun politicians are overtly racist or may not even be consciously denying guns based on race but there defiantly is a heritage and history of denying minorities the right to bare arms.
A lot of Urban Politicians (like Micheal Nutter, the Mayor of Philly) happen to be part of minority groups (he is black). I doubt his reasons for gun control are rooted in racism. Most likely, it is because he is just a nanny, control freak and misguided and believes that guns are the problem.
However, the origins of gun control, defiantly started with American Indians, Jim Crow and other minority groups such as Italians and the Irish.
Re: Gun Control: Rooted in racism?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ForwardAssist
I'll do that, thanks! Is there a particular source you could recommend? Not sure which direction to start off in.
There is a pretty interesting synopsis of state constitutions related to keeping and bearing arms at http://www.law.ucla.edu/volokh/beararms/statedat.htm. Also interesting that most of the heavily anti states say nothing about this right in their state constitutions. A few on-topic tidbits:
Tennessee constitution:
1796: That the freemen of this State have a right to keep and to bear arms for their common defence.
1834: That the free white men of this State have a right to keep and to bear arms for their common defence.
1870: That the citizens of this State have a right to keep and to bear arms for their common defense; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms with a view to prevent crime.
Arkansas:
1836: That the free white men of this State shall have a right to keep and to bear arms for their common defence.
1868: The citizens of this State shall have the right to keep and bear arms for their common defense.
Re: Gun Control: Rooted in racism?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
amagi
I couldn't agree more with these opinions. I don't think many of today's anti-gun politicians are overtly racist or may not even be consciously denying guns based on race but there defiantly is a heritage and history of denying minorities the right to bare arms.
A lot of Urban Politicians (like Micheal Nutter, the Mayor of Philly) happen to be part of minority groups (he is black). I doubt his reasons for gun control are rooted in racism. Most likely, it is because he is just a nanny, control freak and misguided and believes that guns are the problem.
However, the origins of gun control, defiantly started with American Indians, Jim Crow and other minority groups such as Italians and the Irish.
One of the most dangerous things in existence is a community leader imploring a politician, "What are you going to do about this?". Nutter, like most city politicians, is constantly barraged by community leaders and religious leaders asking that very question. Ignoring community leaders often translates into career suicide for a politician.
The damage to everyone's civil rights begins when those politicians choose to lay the blame on the inanimate object instead of standing up and addressing the root cause of the violence. Of course there are crimes of passion committed with firearms, but the overwhelming number of shootings are black market related. It's easy to blame the gun. But the proper solution is to eliminate the profit motive and focus on providing education and creating gainful employment.
Re: Gun Control: Rooted in racism?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
wa3ra
No question: gun control laws, drug control laws, many laws that are unconstitutional were designed to control one minority group or another.
And now gun control laws are being still implemented to oppress a hated (by the politicians) minority group: gun owners. They've simply switched from hating a race or ethnic origin to us.