“Right to Carry” is now a Civil Right. It is Time to Demand It.

The Supreme Court decision in McDonald v Chicago, states on Page 5 in section ii:

“…municipal respondents argue that Members of Congress overwhelmingly viewed [Section] §1 of the Fourteenth Amendment as purely an antidiscrimination rule. But while [Section] §1 does contain an antidiscrimination rule, i.e., the Equal Protection Clause, it can hardly be said that the section does no more than prohibit discrimination. If what municipal respondents mean is that the Second Amendment should be singled out for special—and specially unfavorable—treatment, the Court rejects the suggestion. The right to keep and bear arms must be regarded as a substantive guarantee, not a prohibition that could be ignored so long as the States legislated in an evenhanded manner. [Emphasis Added]”

For years the states have legislated in an “evenhanded manner” restrictive gun control laws; controlling when, where, and how a person can buy, sell, wear, use, transport, or display a personally owned firearm. The laws were not restricted to just the guns themselves, but also upon the assemblies of people who own them or wanted access to them, regulating the transfer between private individuals, regulating the licensing and specific taxations of gun stores, and more. Ammunition, parts, and accessories have also been targets of this “evenhanded” application of the reach of government control.

McDonald has made it clear: hands off.

The Holy Grail for the NRA and law abiding gun owners has been the anticipated enactment of reciprocity between the states regarding Concealed Carry and Open Carry laws. But the basic civil right of self defense has been “even handedly” denied Americans since the idea that the 2nd Amendment was restricted to a “collective-right” began to take hold at the beginning of the Progressive Era. Thus the NRA and others poured resources into the organizations like the ILA [Institutc for Legislative Action] to push legislators into granting us what the Constitution says was ours all along. It took the McDonald decision to change the momentum from our begging politicians to pretty-please give us our rights, to the firm, clear affirmation of this enumerated and inalienable civil right.

But the road ahead of us is long and bumpy, and no one should think that happy days are here.

Just as the Emancipation Proclamation which freed the slaves had to be followed by the 14th Amendment which guaranteed Equal Protection; and just as years of racial prejudice finally gave way to the enlightenment of a color-blind society [of which we now continue to struggle, yet in the reverse, with politically vocal minorities of color demanding preferences instead of equal rights], so we as Americans and as gun owners must now yet struggle to gain that acceptance in society which is the birthright of all Americans.

So the debate is now:  How do we accomplish such a thing? May I suggest that the example of Martin Luther King Jr. be our guide?

We must carefully and thoughtfully think through our Open Carry Rallies. We must ensure that women and minorities are present, carrying their firearms in a non-threatening manner. In every way, every instance of the carrying of a firearm must be done circumspectly, without provocation, without the hint of race-baiting.

There will always be those who will counter-rally and chant epithets—but these should be used as a vehicle to counter-chant that "we stand with you, the un-armed". We seek to protect you, your rights, and your security, you who are without personal protection.

A person with a firearm is not a person from a special class who lords over others the power of life and death; rather it is a person who bears the Higher Responsibility to protect the helpless and defend the innocent.

The “Armed Society is a Polite Society” is not the threat of a peace imposed through the visual-violence of a citizen bearing an arm. Rather it is the restful peace of knowing that your fellow American is an equal to any aggressor that should threaten that peace.

The Second Amendment gives us that as a charter: “…being necessary to the security of a free state…”

When the security of the state is free, we shall all be free, indeed.

 

References:

 

McDonald v Chicago

http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-1521.pdf

 

DC v Heller

http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/07pdf/07-290.pdf

 

All SCOTUS opinions

http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/opinions.aspx