by Terri Lackey, Stevensville
If you’ve been paying attention at all, you have noticed the Big Push for a Convention of States (COS). Darn federal government is completely out of control with their spending and old geezers that need to go home. The COS people are advocating for a “balanced budget” and “term limits.” Sounds good in theory, doesn’t it? The big question to ask yourself is, if the government isn’t following the Constitution now, what sense does it make to “re-write” it and HOPE they will then adhere to it and do the right thing? If you know the Constitution, everything we need to get this country back in shape is to simply “follow it”! Did you know that a member of the COS legal advisory board, Robert P. George, has proposed a New 2nd Amendment? This is what your new 2nd Amendment, sponsored by COS, would say:
“Neither the States or the United States shall make or enforce any law infringing the right to keep and bear arms of the sort ordinarily used for self-defense and recreational purposes, provided that States and the United States in places subject to its general regulatory authority, may enact and enforce reasonable regulations on the bearing of arms, and the keeping of arms by persons determined, with due process, to be dangerous to themselves or other.”
Now what on earth does that have to do with balancing the budget or sending old geezers home? The COS people are telling us that this procedure will be controlled and strictly for balancing the budget and term limits. Then why did legal counsel for COS find it necessary to re-write our 2nd Amendment and entire New Constitution? Don’t take my word for it – it’s time to do your own research. (constitutioncenter.org) The Conservative Constitution; Article 1 Section 12 you will find your new 2nd Amendment!
We better start paying attention to the fine print, the smooth words of those trying to deceive us, and our guts, because there is something rotten in Denmark!
Christine Agin says
A friend sent me this knowing I am a huge 2nd amendment supporter and also a supporter of COS. It took me 20 minutes of research to find some serious falsehoods in this claim…
Robert George is not a legal advisor to COS. In fact, his name is not associated with them anywhere. He was a legal advisor and signer of the Jefferson Statement. This legal board and this statement are used as a resource by COS. It was a legal board that looked at the language and history of the Constitution to determine if the convention could be limited to specific topics. By the way, the legal board concurred that it could.
The further dishonesty comes from the taking out of context of the quote attributed to him. This quote was from an academic exercise where Constitutional scholars were asked to draft a new Constitution. What would they change if they could have the knowledge of today and apply it to our existing document. He felt that the language of the 2nd amendment had left things open for leftist courts to take away our rights. And if he could rewrite the 2nd amendment, he would rewrite it as so…insert quote taken out of context. This was an academic exercise at an event completely not affiliated with COS.
When opponents of COS have to stoop to such dishonesty…..?
Article V is IN the Constitution. We are trying “to use it”.
Will Walker says
The Constitution is a living document- it is designed to be revised over time to meet the needs of the present moment. If we followed it to the letter as it was written in 1787, slavery would still be legal. Part of responsible civic participation is maintaining respect for the guiding principles of our founding document, while acknowledging and rectifying its flaws.
Note that I am a strong believer in the right to keep and bear arms. I do not, however, believe that the Constitution, and in extent the founding fathers, should be unconditionally venerated. They have untenable contradictions between the content of their words and their actions. Recognizing these flaws, studying them, and reconciling them is what really defines the health of the Republic.