The media's job isn't to educate.

Every news source today has said "the Supreme Court upholds the right to bear arms" and gave a quick shpill. Then they went on to discuss the vote and how this is "good news for gun rights advocates."

For people who don't require more info than that, they won't read the decision (not even a little bit) and all they will know is that the right to bear arms was upheld.

You could've if you hadn't caught that felony last year.

:(

I agree that most people won't read the decision, either because they don't care that much about it, or they think they're getting the whole story from the media reports.

As to the media's job; I disagree that educating isn't part of it. In reporting on the news, and giving that information to the public, it is educating the public as to recent events. It's routinely taught in journalism school that, as members of the media, part of your role is to educate members of the public on issues that they wouldn't normally see or hear about.

I couldn't agree more here.

I think anyone with a solid grasp of English grammar and without an agenda likely reads the amendment language in the same fashion, and this is why I feel "gun control" activists should focus on just that: control, in the form of effective regulation rather than elimination.

A great day for individual rights!

Now perhaps getting the PATRIOT Act overturned? Among other things...

Difference in interpretation of what "educating" means.

I don't call what the news media (the type of news media that the average American accesses) does "educating."

Of course, journalism school would say that it is.

This is a huge win, with common law, the liberals are going to have a tough road to hoe as the NRA now has a lot of steam.

Leave it to everyone on the board to spin this into a we shouldn't look at this too broadly. I did, in fact, read everything in the entirety, but one phrase highlights everything "the right of an individual owning a gun shall not be infringed upon"

Why should those of us using our guns lawfully and upright citizens be punished for the crimes of the ignorant.

I mean, even if they did ban guns, only the citizens who already abide by the law are going to follow that, so what do they expect to gain out of a gun ban? I mean, there would be more looting as criminals would know that people aren't going to be armed, and they will illegally smuggle weapons and such into the country much like cocaine or other illegal substances. I've yet to find compelling evidence that shows gun bans would do anything for our country with the exceptions of robbing s law-abiding citizens of our weekend hobbies.

The gun control debate shouldn't operate on extremes.

Generally speaking, those who are pro-gun control aren't advocating law abiding citizens having zero access to guns. And those who are anti-gun control aren't really anti-gun control.

Other than that there is no evidence to support your claims of looting and drug smuggling. It's actually kind of funny because it appeals to people's assumptions and fear. Claims without evidence are based on exaggerated hypotheticals. They are a bad idea on both sides of the discussion.

Actually, the NRA didn't really give a shit about this case - in fact, they didn't push it at all, because they felt that the legal tide had turned in their favor either way, and that this wasn't a good battle to fight (and the 5-4 decision backs that up - who knows where Kennedy could have wound up?).

Instead, this was backed by a wealthy Libertarian with a piqued interest.

Now, I agree with the common law repercussions, but that's merely a result of the Court actually ruling on this topic in this way for really the first time ever, rather than any head of steam for the NRA - this should lead to similar laws in Chicago, NYC and etc. being repealed, but it actually seems to reaffirm other forms of gun control (in fact, Scalia strongly supports many forms of control in the decision), so I'm not sure this will lead to any change, just an end to this specific form of banning.

Nate;
You may wish to compare gun violent and gun related deaths between the USA and the rest of the modern world/G-8.
Nate, BTB, I was taught my gun safety and shooting skills by a former US Army Major in a NRA class.
I was a member of the NRA and I know its' history. Today it has strayed a long way from its founding.
I have no problems with guns per se. It is with people who own and operate them.
There should be a reason to have one. Owner should know all about it, how to operate it safely, how to
use it safely, and how to keep it safe. However, I do not see any kind of reason for any civilian to own or have in
their possession any kind of "military" weapon. One does not hunt with a fully auto, 30 mag, AK-47.
Nor does one need a .50 cal snipers rifle.
Yet, the NRA says one does. One of the reasons I am no longer a member. And I support gun regulations.
It is, after all, very much like risk management. "Crimes of the ignorant" can cover many sins.

I hate the way jon spaces his posts.

Agree.
And I changed my spacing just for you:p;):D

What does common law have to do with it?

And yet the Court then went on to describe how infringement upon that right is not absolute and can, at times, be constitutional.

Should the social debate on gun control operate on extremes? No, I agree. Should the legal argument? I think this is a bit more involved. Practicality and compromise certainly has its place in the law. But it is also a tool used by those interested in abrogating individual rights. Thus, many times the legal focus is on extremes, especially with regard to enumerated rights.

Also, about pro gun rights/anti gun rights (trying to reverse your framing, obviously), I think your statements about what people "generally" care about are generally legitimate, but it may be closer than you imply. I think a substantial portion of people who oppose gun rights see no usefulness in the individual right to own firearms. I argue this subject a fair amount, and I've had numerous opponents mention that the police remove the need for self-defense, and that our modern culture removes the necessity for hunting. Now, this is obviously anecdotal evidence and I think the latter argument is probably a relatively rare one, but I strongly believe that a substantial portion of the anti crowd believes that gun ownership should be limited to recreation. On the flip side, I think a substantial portion of those who oppose gun control measures may be more opposed to "sensible" regulation than you recognize. This isn't true for the people who respond "Yes" to a "should individuals have gun rights" poll, but I think it is accurate with regard to those who are really involved in this issue.