USA Today POLL

[Pistol storm 40]

Our new Attorney General has already said this is one of his major issues.
>
> This takes literally 2 clicks to complete.
>

> Please vote on this gun issue question with USA Today.
It will only take a few seconds of your time. Then pass the link
> on to all the pro gun folks you know.
> Hopefully these results will be published later this month.
This upcoming year will become critical
> for gun owners with the Supreme Court accepting the District of
> Columbia case against the right for individuals to bear arms.
>
> First - vote on this one.
> Second - launch it to other folks and have THEM vote - then we will see if
> the results get published. Vote in the USA Today poll - click on the link below.
The Question is: Does the Second Amendment give individuals the right to bear arms? Vote here:
> Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.usatoday.com/news/quickquest ... up5895.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[roberts]

I voted NO because the constitution doesn't give any rights to citizens. It protects civil rights that existed before.

[LaserTex]

The poll is from 2007 and was on here last month also. Seems that about 200k more folks have seen it from last month.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/quickquestion/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;2007/november/popup5895.htm

[Pistol storm 40]

I voted NO because the constitution doesn't give any rights to citizens. It protects civil rights that existed before.

Well before the constitution, we did not have any rights! So what are you saying then?

[jimlongley]

I voted NO because the constitution doesn't give any rights to citizens. It protects civil rights that existed before.

Well before the constitution, we did not have any rights! So what are you saying then?

The Bill of Rights established protections for rights that existed before and without the establishment of the constitution.

[shoeless]

I voted NO because the constitution doesn't give any rights to citizens. It protects civil rights that existed before.

Well before the constitution, we did not have any rights! So what are you saying then?

The Bill of Rights established protections for rights that existed before and without the establishment of the constitution.

"Inalienable rights..." The founders drafted the Bill of Rights and Constitution, not to establish rights, but to define protections for those rights before a corrupt system of government could take them away.

[Pistol storm 40]

I voted NO because the constitution doesn't give any rights to citizens. It protects civil rights that existed before.

Well before the constitution, we did not have any rights! So what are you saying then?

The Bill of Rights established protections for rights that existed before and without the establishment of the constitution.

"Inalienable rights..." The founders drafted the Bill of Rights and Constitution, not to establish rights, but to define protections for those rights before a corrupt system of government could take them away.

Ok it is our inalienable right to bear arms, among other important freedoms, correct? Therefore the constitution was developed to protect those rights. The 2nd amendment protects us to bear arms; so how can the governement take away our Inalienable right? The government IMO is walking a fine line on our 2nd admendment. They are trying to make it diffult by inforcing gun control and other measures. What they forget is that the bad guys could care less about the constitution! So with that said, that is why I voted for the 2nd admendment in the poll! I am sure this has been discussed in the past but since I am a CHL holder now and realize what a pain it was to get, I find this to be facanating! Who knows if I payed more attention in college government I could of been a contender for the US Senate lol

[shoeless]

I voted NO because the constitution doesn't give any rights to citizens. It protects civil rights that existed before.

Well before the constitution, we did not have any rights! So what are you saying then?

The Bill of Rights established protections for rights that existed before and without the establishment of the constitution.

"Inalienable rights..." The founders drafted the Bill of Rights and Constitution, not to establish rights, but to define protections for those rights before a corrupt system of government could take them away.

Ok it is our inalienable right to bear arms, among other important freedoms, correct? Therefore the constitution was developed to protect those rights. The 2nd amendment protects us to bear arms; so how can the governement take away our Inalienable right? The government IMO is walking a fine line on our 2nd admendment. They are trying to make it diffult by inforcing gun control and other measures. What they forget is that the bad guys could care less about the constitution! So with that said, that is why I voted for the 2nd admendment in the poll! I am sure this has been discussed in the past but since I am a CHL holder now and realize what a pain it was to get, I find this to be facanating! Who knows if I payed more attention in college government I could of been a contender for the US Senate lol

I agree. But, as we all know, the government today is far from the government of the founders. They certainly were closer to those who were fleeing a government that imposed restrictions and took away basic rights. Unfortunately, the laws (or better the interpretations of those laws, both by the courts and the legislature) have restricted freedoms rather than guaranteeing them. For example, on the surface, a waiting period to purchase a handgun can be seen as a proactive measure to prevent crime. But the execution of the restriction has imposed restrictions on the freedoms of individuals, especially law abiding citizens. Even further, having one restriction in place (even if generally acceptable by the public) opens the door for taking that restriction further, one step at a time.

While I certainly understand your vote of NO, the problem with this poll and many like it is the wording is not accurate. It should have read more like "As a citizen of the United States, does the 2nd amendment PROTECT your right to bear arms?" The wording assumes that the amendment is what gives us the right, when in reality its the amendment that protects a right that already exists.

Sorry for the rant...sometimes I just have to vent off some of the "I can't believe our elected officials have messed it up this bad" steam.

[stevie_d_64]

Whoever said USA Today could ever get it right...