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More and
more cities and states across the country are releasing prisoners
due to overcrowding. Those being released are typically "non-violent
offenders" or those convicted of a misdemeanor. There is
no clarification, however, as to whether the "non-violent
offender" has never committed a violent crime or if
the offender has a history of violence, but is currently incarcerated
on a non-violent offense. It is also possible that the criminal
has commited violent crimes in the past without getting caught.
We don't know how many inmates have plea-bargained to a lesser
charge making them eligible for early release later on due to
overcrowding.
California
State Senator, Don Perata, is quoted as saying, "We
are jammed up with this situation right now because we have fallen
in love with one of the most undocumented beliefs: That somehow
you get safer if you put more people in jail."
This is interesting
since Perata is one of the leading gun banners in the state. Apparently
he wants to let criminals roam free while simultaneously disarming
law abiding citizens. It is worth noting that Senator Perata has
a coveted CCW
license which he claims he needs for self protection.
The Fourteenth
Amendment of the Constitution guarantees equal protection
under the law. The Second Amendment guarantees our inherent right
to keep and bear arms. Yet, Senator Perata is allowed a CCW license
whereas most California citizens are denied such licenses. This
scenario is played out time and again where politicians, celebrities,
and other influential people are legally exempted from abiding
by gun restrictions that everyone else must obey.
The original
intent of the Fourteenth Amendment was to legally recognize former
slaves (Freedmen)
as full-fledged American citizens subject to the same rights as
white men. The right and ability of black men to own guns was
extremely important at that time due to the resistance of some
to recognize blacks as free men as well as intense and often times
life-threatening racism that permeated many aspects of society.
The message
is quite clear: The Second Amendment absolutely applies
to the individual, even to this day. It is the only thing that
prevents a free man from becoming enslaved to rampant crime and
tyrannical governments.
Jennifer
Freeman is Executive Director and co-founder of Liberty Belles,
a grass-roots organization dedicated to restoring and preserving
the Second Amendment.
http://www.libertybelles.org
jennifer@libertybelles.org
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