With the recent shootings, and the bombings in Boston, MA, there have been new calls for gun legislation, immigration reform and prosecuting the bombing suspects as terrorist. We (as a country) need to be very, very careful about the precedents we set. Look at what we got from our rush to secure our country: The Department of Homeland Defense (sounds like something in Germany during WWII) and the TSA. Two stellar organizations, just ask any traveler who’ve had their nail clippers retained.
The other week, legislation proposed for gun control was defeated. I think it is a good thing this legislation was defeated. There are already enough laws for gun control on the books, but the scariest thing to me, it took gun control from the states and put in the federal realm. This is dangerous territory. The federal government should not have that power over the states. Like it or not, it IS a states right issue, urban states (like MA and RI) have different views on gun ownership than say the western states of AZ or NV.
With regard to the bombing suspects, this has created all kinds of calls for immigration reform, which is needed; but not because of this incident- and I find it really silly to try and connect the two issues.
The suspect is a US citizen. How should he be prosecuted? Well, contrary to popular belief (that dictates congress has to create legislation to scratch their ass), there are already measures in place, in our Constitution. I have difficulty getting past the fact that he is a US citizen, why anyone would want to do this to their country is beyond me. He has rights, and those rights CANNOT be shorted. This shall be an interesting case, one which may uphold our Constitution; or take us down the road which could…could, eventually lead to a form of Gestapo right here in the Good ‘Ol US of A.
I am not trying to present the answers here; I’m just trying to better understand. These two men killed three people (injured a lot more). If this man is tried as a terrorist (once again, he IS a US citizen), what is to stop the postal worker who kills 5 of his co-workers when he can’t make change for a stamp to be labeled a terrorist? This is a very slippery slope; and I for one do not want to see our country go down this slope. Maybe, we should try and understand why he feels the way he does (read this).
If we, as a country are not prepared for this type of activity; maybe we should be asking ourselves, “why do other’s want to terrorize us?” The answer may be right in front of us. We have a heavy footprint throughout the world, I’m not saying we cannot be involved in other countries; but maybe we should do so with less of a heavy hand. Look at the Israel, China and (pick a country) lobby. They have figured out that to put pressure on the US, they can use our own lobbyists to achieve their goals. More light reading here.
I look forward to your comments, and thanks for letting me vent.
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