RESSOF GRIEVANCES: Rounding out the attacks on the firstamendment, there is a sword hanging over the right topetition for redress of grievances. House Resolution 4079,the National Drug and Crime Emergency Act, tries to"modify" the right to habeas corpus. It sets time limits on theright of people in custody to petition for redress and alsolimits the courts in which such an appeal may be heard.Amendment II A well regulated Militia, being necessary tothe security of a free State, the right of the people to keepand bear Arms, shall not be infringed. RIGHT TO BEARARMS: This amendment is so commonly challenged that themovement has its own name: gun control. Legislation banningvarious types of weapons is supported with the claim that theweapons are not for "legitimate" sporting purposes. This is aperversion of the right to bear arms for two reasons. First,the basis of freedom is not that permission to do legitimatethings is granted to the people, but rather that thegovernment is empowered to do a limited number oflegitimate things -- everything else people are free to do;they do not need to justify their choices. Second, should theneed for defense arise, it will not be hordes of deer that thesecurity of a free state needs to be defended from. Defensewould be needed against humans, whether external invadersor internal oppressors. It is an unfortunate fact of life that theguns that would be needed to defend the security of a stateare guns to attack people, not guns for sporting purposes.Firearms regulations also empower local officials, such aspolice chiefs, to grant or deny permits. This results in townswhere only friends of people in the right places are grantedpermits, or towns where women are generally denied theright to carry a weapon for self-defense. Amendment III NoSoldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house,without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but ina manner to be prescribed by law. QUARTERINGSOLDIERS: Thi...
