| With the New Year less than a month away, | | | | you need these". First of all, we have |
| Democrats are poised to take control of the | | | | statistical information which shows |
| House and Senate. This change in power has | | | | unarguable proof these vehicles cause |
| begun the rumors of increased gun control | | | | unusually high death rates in Americans. To |
| legislation among a host of other liberal | | | | begin, all cars which have the capability to |
| agenda programs. When it comes to gun | | | | exceed 80 miles an hour should be prohibited. |
| control, there are two hot button issues | | | | The top legal speed limit in United States |
| which are going to be the focus; the | | | | is 75 mph, therefore, car manufactures are |
| re-instatement of the flawed Assault Weapons | | | | encouraging crime and creating unnecessary |
| Ban and the complete removal of privatized | | | | risk to society by making cars for the |
| ownership of the 50 BMG rifles. There have | | | | private public with the potential to exceed |
| been a host of intellectually challenged | | | | the mandated legal speed limits. |
| justifications behind these but my personal | | | | |
| favorites have been "Why do you need these?". | | | | How about swimming pools or watersports in |
| | | | general? According to the CDC 2003 |
| That poses a very interesting concept on the | | | | fatality report, unintentional drownings |
| basis of lawmaking. Regardless of the | | | | ranked 2nd as cause of death in children |
| endless stream of data showing the decline of | | | | under the age of 14. Why do children need |
| violence since the ending of the assault | | | | to be near the water? Besides the joys of |
| weapons ban or the statistical void of | | | | recreating in pleasant environment, there |
| violence committed with 50 bmg, gun banners | | | | really isn't a need for swimming pools or |
| are trying to justify draconian regulations | | | | waterskiing. Bathtubs should be outlawed in |
| based on the need of gun owners and on the | | | | favor of showers. Children under the age of |
| potential of the firearm to wreak havoc on | | | | 14 should be prohibited from fishing since |
| society. Unfortunately, these arguments are | | | | there is no need to catch fish when the |
| often accepted by those who choose to take | | | | supermarket can provide them at whim. |
| them at face value and never really dig into | | | | |
| the potential such arguments make. Blatantly | | | | I guess the real question then fall on who |
| put, it is a full on assault on the rights of | | | | determines what is needed. What is the legal |
| Americans not just the Second Amendment. | | | | term for need? Really, to preserve life, all |
| | | | we NEED is shelter, food, and water. When |
| For those who would tend to favor such a ban, | | | | we start basing policy of law on the concept |
| allow me to place the same arguments on some | | | | of need and not on fact or statistical risk, |
| of society's more common "household items". | | | | we have in turn removed our legal claim to |
| Make no mistake, I am arguing absurdity by | | | | anything not defined as necessary with the |
| applying it other elements of daily life, no | | | | opinion of those who mandate law upon us. |
| just the 2nd amendment. Let us start with | | | | The precedence of NEED is a slippery slope |
| private vehicles. The car is part of the | | | | rank with the potential of eroded rights and |
| American dream. We are literally | | | | wet with drool of anticipation of those who |
| indoctrinated with television, media, radio, | | | | would strip us of what we have fought for and |
| and countless other adds to the benefits of | | | | held so dear for over 2 centuries. FREEDOM. |
| private ownership of vehicles, however, the | | | | Not just freedom as defined by the needs of |
| car is one of the leading killers in America. | | | | life, but FREEDOM as defined by the rights |
| According to the national statistics as | | | | guaranteed by the Constitution and the |
| presented by NCSA Fatality Analysis Reporting | | | | bedrock foundation of this nation. |
| System, over 43,000 people were killed in car | | | | |
| related accidents. The silence of calls to | | | | The assault on any individual right, no |
| ban cars has been deafening. | | | | matter how "logical" it may sound has a |
| | | | prevailing legal effect overall the rights we |
| Let us apply the legal question of "why do | | | | have. |