Richard Martinez will not be silenced. It is very hard, as a parent, not to agree with this man. I think that is what many of us simply do not understand. After Sandy Hook, what more will it take to have some sort of gun reform and some sort of mental health reform? Just what WILL it take?
His rage, sorrow, tenacity and determination seem to be the perfect storm. I hope he is successful in capturing the ears and commitment of America. Tech wasn’t enough. Giffords wasn’t enough. Aurora wasn’t enough. Sandy Hook wasn’t enough. Just what IS enough?
Mr. Martinez’s anguish goes beyond grief.
“They would likely rule that my right to leave my house without being killed by a gun trumps your right to carry your gun outside your house. ”
Ed, contrary to your delusion, the US Constitution is a check on government power, not the rights of a citizen. You have no “right to safety” or “right to be free of crime”.
For an example of limiting a fundamental right to prevent danger or death to the public, see the 1A restrictions on fighting words or yelling “fire” in a crowded theatre.
I have a reasonable expectation that I can walk down the street to my polling place without undue risk of being killed by someone carrying a gun. A gun owner needs to have an equal reasonable expectation that they can use their gun to prevent death or injury from an attacker.
Right now the stats show that I am more likely to be killed by the careless owner of a gun than I am to be saved by possessing a gun of my own. Thus gun rights need to be restricted until my right to life is restored. Improve gun safety, eliminate gun owners who aren’t good stewards, or make guns less lethal and you can change that balance between our respective rights so that gun owners have fewer restrictions on bearing arms. If you are irresponsible expect more restrictions.
@Ed Myers
For example, there is no limit to yelling fire in a crowded theater. Your example is mistaken.
Such a limitation would be prior restraint preventing any utterance.
What actually exists is a penalty for misusing that right.
One has every right to yell “fire” in a crowded theater if one can reasonably prove that they thought the theater was on fire. Fraudulently doing so is a crime.
Please provide a citation to these stats of yours showing that you would be more likely killed by a careless gun owner than saved by your possessing a gun of your own. Your assertion seems unlikely. Even the Brady Organization states a minimum of 86,000 defensive gun uses per year.
The right to keep and bear arms infringes upon no rights. Shooting is not a right. EVERY shot must be justified and every shot is regulated. Collective penalties that infringe upon rights for the bad actions of a few are not the proper responses.
@Cargosquid
How are “defensive gun uses” defined and verified?