Freedom from fear: Why the First Amendment trumps the Second Amendment

Seattle Times by David Sirota | Aug. 22, 2009 (Opinion)

We should worry about gun-toting protesters and public political events. The First Amendment ethos guarantees people — whatever their politics — a fundamental right to participate in their democracy without concern for physical retribution. It is the primary amendment because America was first and foremost created not as a gun-owners' haven, but as a place to shelter citizens from oppression. Full Story »

Posted by Dwight Rousu - via AllTop

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Subjects: World, Media, Politics
Topics: Freedom of Speech, U.S. Constitution
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Posted by: Posted by Dwight Rousu - Aug 21, 2009 - 6:04 PM PDT
Reviewed by: Dwight Rousu (review), Chris Finnie (review), Randy Morrow (review), Tanya J. Maurer (review)
Content Type: Article
Edit Lock: This story can be edited
Edited by: Dwight Rousu - Aug 23, 2009 - 12:29 PM PDT
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4.2
 by Dwight Rousu - Aug. 23, 2009

Sirota gives an insightful viewpoint on armed intimidation of the citizenry by a minority.

Dwight posted this story.
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3.1
 by Chris Finnie - Aug. 23, 2009

Unless they reference other writings, I am always leery of people who claim to divine the intent of the framers. I don't trust crystal balls. Besides, the gun-toting types claim the same knowledge. So it seems a dangerous path. Sirota also ignores what I thought the most interesting quote, "forcefully resist people imposing their will on us through the strength of the majority." This is a rejection of democracy, which strikes me as being a more important issue.

“forcefully resist people imposing their will on us through the strength of the majority.” More »

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3.8
 by Randy Morrow - Aug. 23, 2009

Yes, the gun has been transformed from a sport and self-defense device into a tool of mass bullying. Like the noose in the Jim Crow South, its symbolic message is clear: If ... More »

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4.0
 by Tanya J. Maurer - Aug. 25, 2009
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