18 year Olds and the Right to Bear Arms

One of the most powerful lobbyists groups in the country has filed a lawsuit challenging a Texas law, which does not allow anyone under the age of 21 to buy a gun or carry a concealed weapon, as being unconstitutional.  Mike Ward’s article “NRA Opens new front in guns rights battle” appears in the November 25^th 2010, issue of the Austin American Statesman.

According to Ward, the National Rifle Association (NRA) has filed a lawsuit to allow 18-20 year-olds the right to buy guns and then allow those guns to be carried as concealed weapons. He quotes Chris Cox, the executive director of the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action, as saying, “ The U.S Supreme Court clearly stated that the Second Amendment guarantees a fundamental, individual right to keep and bear arms for all law-abiding Americans…That right is not limited only to Americans 21 years of age and older.”

Ward also quotes Daniel Vice, senior attorney for the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence “This is an unprecedented attempt to arm teenagers … even though most states currently restrict them from carrying a concealed weapon … teen gang members could buy guns if this law is changed.”

Both sides have very good arguments and I’m sure this will end up in the U.S. Supreme court. This fight will have the same argument as the fight for the right to give 18’s the right to vote. If they are old enough to fight for this country then they are old enough to vote or buy guns. Even though I hate to admit it, because if it was up to me nobody but hunters and military would own guns, I think the NRA has a valid point. The age of accountability is 18 in this country and other constitutional rights are protected at this age. If the U.S. Supreme court has stated law abiding citizens have the right to bear arms then I see no reason why that ruling should not apply to all law abiding citizens who can be held accountable for their choices.

The 10-20 rule

In his blog titled “When our Backs are Turned,” jadamsark, reminds us of the veto power invested in Governor Rick Perry.  Because of the 10-20 rule, the Governor can keep a bill from becoming law simply by vetoing it after the regular 140 day legislative session is over and all the legislators have gone home.  They do not have the power to return and try to rally a vote to override the veto, so it stays.

This process seems to disrupt the ideal of checks and balances that our national founding fathers fought so hard to preserve in the U.S Constitution.

Who Should be Endorsing Candidates?

     Every election year the question is brought up of who should be endorsing political candidates. This time around, Gov. Perry started running a television campaign advertisement featuring the widow of slain Houston police officer, Rodney Johnson. Sgt. Josyln Johnson claims White, as mayor of Houston, supported policies involving immigration that made it hard for police officers to safely do their job resulting in the death of her husband. White fought back accusing Gov. Perry, of “shamelessly exploiting the grief of a widow.”

      The fact that White claims Sgt. Johnson is a grieving widow makes it sound like he thinks she is incapable of thinking rationally about who is qualified to be the next governor of the state.  Sgt. Johnson, like her husband, is a member of the Houston police force and should not be challenged on which candidate she supports based on her grief. She knew what the immigration policies were while White was Mayor; she had to follow them every day she went to work.  She has a right to throw her support behind the person she thinks will best support her ideals, especially if she feels those opposing ideals were responsible for her husband’s death.

     There was no coercion used on the republican’s side to receive this endorsement for Gov. Perry. Maybe what bothers the White campaign the most: Sgt. Johnson is an admitted Democrat and chose to cross party lines to endorse Gov. Perry. 

    No matter what is going on in your personal life or what your political party affiliation is, everyone has the right to support the candidate of their choice. It is the American way.