I have to be honest, I don’t really have my panties all in a wad because Florida decided to insist you have to be 21 to buy a gun. Mostly because it is Florida and I don’t live there. If the voters in Florida don’t like the new law they can simply elect different people to vote differently. It is really that simple.
I could be wrong on this position and maybe you will tell me why in the comments.
Contrary to popular misconception, the thing was not set up to be fifty (or 13) administrative districts carrying out the Big Government policies. It really was supposed to be the other way around; you know — a group of States united together. That was the plan. There was never any intention every State had to be the same. Too bad they do not teach civics in school anymore. If I could go back in time and suggest a change, it would be that Amendment Ten would have been listed as number One.
I just don't get the 21 years old deal, What makes 21 a magic number? They drive at 16, vote at 18, and most states drink at 21. I would think a better law would be to have attended and have a gun saftety course, under some age,, pick a number.
ReplyDeleteJames Old Guy
Amen, brother. I think it IS up to the States to decide. I think their decision is stupid, but it is up to the folks in Florida to choose.
ReplyDeleteLook, the Constitution is very specific about the things reserved to the Feds. Laying and collecting (federal) taxes, coining money, raising armies, regulating commerce between the several states, etc.
ReplyDeleteNowhere in the Constitution is the power granted the feds to oversee health and human services, or education, or the environment. Civil rights gets a squeak-through via Amendments 13-15. But the 9th and 10th Amendments have been largely ignored since the Civil War. (If you don't think the 9th is just as important as the 10th, you need to go re-read it.)
If you believe (as I do) that freedom of speech and religion is the most important right of a free citizenry, then yes, it should be #1. And if you believe that those rights are worthy of protection against infringement by the government, #2 is perfectly placed -- "The Second protects the First."
It makes perfect and logical sense to enumerate rights and then and only then go on to say that the rights and powers not specifically enumerated in the document are reserved to the states, and finally to the people if the states do not enumerate them.
But I would agree, Joe, that the first thing that ought to be taught in a Civics class is that the Constitution protects the rights of the people by placing specific limits on what the federal government is allowed to meddle with. After that can come the concepts of free speech, freedom of religion, and the freedom to bear arms to back up those freedoms and rights.