Guns, schools, and states
Friday, January 11th, 2013With all the news about teachers rushing to accept invitations for free firearms training, I got to wondering how that might fit in with the tragically misnamed Gun-Free School Zones Act.
Turns out school districts can allow guns if the boss-o-crats want to. But I realized something else interesting. The clause the feddies inserted to make this otherwise bogus law “constitutional” could also mean that those guns manufactured and carried in-state under all those new firearms freedom laws ought to be legal for school and near-school carry.
And those instate guns ought to be exempt from whatever the Biden/Obama/Feinstein crowd decides to do.
Yeah, I know; a court that, over many decades, says somebody who grows wheat or marijuana for private use is participating in “interstate commerce” is a court that will absolutely scream that every gun everywhere on the planet is part of interstate commerce. And the weasely wording in the law clearly invites that interpretation.
But still … I can just see Oathkeeper-types making a great display of protecting school children with firearms produced instate. Or … how about not Oathkeeper types, but mothers and fathers and older sisters and brothers? And teachers who haven’t been authorized by their bosses?
Free women and men protecting their loved ones with firearms produced in freedom. Whotta concept!
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Samuel Adams (who’s involved in Wyoming politics and in a position to know) says his state’s proposed new law (.pdf, but a mercifully brief text!) to make it a crime to steal firearms and magazines probably won’t pass.
But it’s interesting that it’s getting coverage — even from media outlets that call gun-banners “gun safety advocates” and call those things they want to ban “clips” that hold “bullets.” (I’d like to see some media type demonstrate shooting a “deadly black assault rifle” with a device that holds bullets but fails to include cases, powder, or primers.)
Anyhow, I know we’re all groping right now for ways to defeat the gangs of gun thieves without going to war. State resistance is certainly one of them. And while nobody can say that wouldn’t eventually lead to you-know-what, further fragmentation of an already fractious and divided union could be just the thing we need — or one of the things we need — right now.
We can use every way possible to tell Mordor-on-the-Potomac that it will never get the One Ring of total power its minions so crave.
January 11th, 2013
Shortly after the CT shooting, my nephew told us that security had been beefed up at his school. There was now a teacher watching every door for anyone coming to hurt the kids.
How will they be able to tell if the person is coming to hurt the kids?
“I dunno.”
How will they stop the person from hurting the kids?
“I dunno.”
What would you do if the person coming got past that teacher?
“I dunno.”
My nephew’s a smart kid, I could tell that just by asking those questions I’d gotten the wheels turning. His dad did suggest that if he decided to ask the teacher those questions, to do it when the other kids wouldn’t hear so he didn’t scare them.
Then I shared the story of how Isreal had dealt with the problem. A day or so later, he asked his grandma, my mother, what she would do if SHE was protecting the school and someone tried to hurt the kids. I should mention, my mother may be calm and sweet, but she is also a textbook “momma grizzly”, and so are all the women in her family. I think their little talk gave him some ideas on how you really keep a school safe.
January 11th, 2013
Oh, Ellendra — Smart way to deal with a smart kid! Socratic!
January 11th, 2013
I’ve wanted to move to Montana since I heard about their similar law, which did pass several years ago:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montana_Firearms_Freedom_Act
January 11th, 2013
“Officials who have worked on the Montana Firearms Freedom Act, which simply declares that guns made, sold and kept in the state of Montana are exempt from federal limits and requirements, also prompted similar legislation in seven other states.
Among those are Tennessee (SB1610); Utah (SB11); Wyoming (HB95); South Dakota (SB89); Arizona (HB2307); Idaho (HB589); and Alaska (HB1860). Representing a consensus among the states on the limits of federal power, additional copies of the MFFA were also introduced in the legislatures of 23 other states, for a total of 31 jurisdictions where it has been enacted or introduced.”
http://www.wnd.com/2013/01/revived-state-law-banishing-d-c-gun-rules/
January 11th, 2013
Don’t have a link yet… but hubs said today that NC is working on the same kind of legislation. Been thinking for a while, my experience writing our state folks that go off to DC has been polite but… less than appreciative of my vote… so why not direct all that “input” to my state folks, instead. We have a brand-new Rep Gov, Senate & House in NC. I’m thinking a strong repudiation of more federal gun “rules” would be a good-faith statement to the people who put them in office.
After all – look how many states are opting out of Obamacare’s exchanges.
January 11th, 2013
I have no idea where I originally found the link to this site, but there’s an interesting map on it – based on news stories of guns saving lives: http://gunssavelives.net/incident-map/
If it was one of your links Claire, sorry for the repeat.
January 11th, 2013
“Turns out school districts can allow guns if the boss-o-crats want to.”
Per federal laws, yes. State laws vary.
January 11th, 2013
new bumper sticker:
Our Home-schoolers study Madison, Monroe, Smith & Wesson
January 11th, 2013
Good point, LarryA. Good map, naturegirl (and not from any links I’ve posted).
January 11th, 2013
Claire,
Are you aware of Oregon State Representative Dennis Richardson’s proposal for School Safety & Campus Responders (newsletter link: http://www.leg.state.or.us/richardson/newsletter/newsletters_2012/newsletter_121712.htm). He is proposing that schools have trained teachers and other personnel armed and able to respond in seconds when the police are minutes away.
I know this idea has been developed and implemented in a number of states, such as Texas, but to me it’s quite novel in Oregon. I think you may be in OR, and it may be of interest to you from that point of view.
So far, the Oregon Firearms Federation has not recognized Rep. Richardson’s effort. Since I’m not a member of OFF, I wonder if they are going to get behind it.
I have e-mailed my Oregon State Representative and Senator and Senators Wyden and Merkley and Representative Walden (who covers my district). Best response from Huffman.
Don’t know if you want to use this as a comment or for further background. Either way, I do think like minded people should get behind this.
January 11th, 2013
Anyplace is safe, if you want to protect it. Problem is: those who scream for protection don’t ever get it because they, themselves, won’t protect it.
January 12th, 2013
“… to tell Mordor-on-the-Potomac that it will never get the One Ring of total power its minions so crave.”
Reminds me of the final episode of the TV series, Little House on the Prairie, where the towns-People blew up all the buildings in town rather than let swindlers (or was it goberment/railroad goons?) win the day.
Also, it’s funny how certain People can down-play the lessons and such learned from the Little House series, … as if it weren’t based on real life or something? Or should I say, as if there’s one new thing under the Sun.
– WestWorld ho!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westworld
January 13th, 2013
FWIW, South Carolina is also working on a “Firearms Freedom Act.” http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess120_2013-2014/bills/85.htm