For several days now, I have been considering commenting on the gun show being held at the agricultural center and more recently, Gene’s poll on whether or not such events should be allowed.
I am glad that I held off in responding because as providence would have it, earlier today SCOTUS issued a pro-2A ruling affirming that the 2nd Amendment does enumerate the inherent right of self defense as including the right to keep (have) and bear (wear / possess) in public spaces. Further the ruling strikes down the concept of “may issue” used by six states and the District of Columbia to require some special need beyond a desire for self defense in order to possess a gun in public.
When the original question, or rather objection was raised about a gun show at the Ag Center, it tacitly implied that there was something inherently wrong with guns and carrying them. Furthermore, it suggests that there should be some sort of special need to have a gun in such a place. These positions are very much in line with the views of these restrictive “may issue” states and likely the person asking why gun shows are allowed there. It is a view that the highest court just today has struck down as a constitutional violation of both the 2nd and more importantly the 14th amendment; and hence, wrong.
One of the things that the ruling leaves standing is allowing a prohibition on “sensitive” places that was part of the earlier Heller ruling. While that ruling gave a few examples of potentially sensitive places, it did not provide a definition or standard for what constitutes a “sensitive” place.
Consequently, I believe that Gene has the question backwards. The question isn’t “should guns shows, and by natural extension the carrying of guns be ALLOWED in public facilities like the Ag Center. but what compelling reason is there that they should not?” Furthermore, the ruling also puts the full stop brakes on the end-run tactic of saying that “government has a compelling interest in safety and therefore has grounds to prohibit guns.” So again, unless there is a demonstrable reason why this facility should be declared “sensitive” the question of whether guns and gun shows should be allowed is looking up the wrong end of the horse.
Lastly, I would like to address a matter that I believe the original post questioning, or rather complaining about the gun show, made references such as “insensitivity given recent public shootings” and possibly other similar arguments. In today’s SCOTUS ruling, Alito issued a concurring statement In his statement he raises questions that are directly applicable to the question of guns and gun shows at the Ag center. Paraphrasing, not strictly quoting the ruling, he asks, “how are these mass shootings relevant to the question at hand?” and similarly, “Do you actually believe some sort of prohibition (against lawful people) is going to prevent atrocities?”, “Will a person bent on committing a mass shooting be deterred by a prohibition?” Furthermore, he questions “the relevance on the statistics of suicide” have to do with people arming themselves for their own protection.
From: chathampatriot
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2022 at 03:15:10 PM EDT
Subject: Gun Show Vote