G-Freeman: Ok, remember the "Lopez decision"? The Dems enacted the "Gun free school zone act", which prohibited firearms possession within 1000 ft of school property. The Supreme court struck it down as unconstitutional, because regulating gun possession near a school really had nothing to do with regulating interstate commerce, the enumerated power Congress was pretending to exercise. Here's a link to the decision:
http://caselaw.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=000&invol=U10287
This case was historic on two counts: First, the first time in living memory the S.C. actually placed a limit on how far it would stretch the interstate commerce clause, and second, the first gun law they struck down.
Valdez: It's NOT a clever scheme, and Heston ISN'T clueless. He just doesn't give a bucket of warm spit about the Constitution. No, I take that back; He may very well be clueless; His chief qualifications for the office of NRA President are, after all, a resonant speaking voice, and the ability to remember his lines and refrain from ad libbing. He was chosen as a charismatic figurehead, not a leader.
Oh, and Val, you're wrong; The Republicans did more than insert the phrase "interstate commerce"; They also inserted a provision allowing police to set up roadblocks where highways cross the 1000 ft. line, and search all the cars going through for guns. I don't know whether to be glad that the police have had the sense to never attempt enforcing THAT provision, or to regret that they didn't try it, which would have raised a HUGE stink.
But it's a bit unfair to blame ALL the Republicans for this one; The Kohl amendment re-enacting this idiocy was inserted into an omnibus spending bill in conference committee, and the GOP leadership actually LIED to their own members about it's existance in the bill, in order to prevent a floor fight which might have delayed Congress ajourning for Christmas vacation. Though if you want to blame the GOP members for believing their leaders, (Who they know quite well lie to them at the drop of a hat!) instead of the NRA, I'd go with that.
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Sic semper tyranus!