I offer the following verbiage as a starting point to develop a petition to be presented to the Supreme Court. The petition is mentioned in thefiringline.com thread "Peaceful Armed March on Washington."
I envision that we hammer out the language of the petition online and then make the text and instructions available to all interested parties. Individuals would then print copies for signature and mail in the completed petitions as they become filled with signatures.
This would be quick and very inexpensive for individual clubs to do and would allow our voice be heard without the need for the traditional media. It would further our cause to get the petition out to the streets by putting packets in the local shooting and sporting supply stores in your area. Use any outlet where you think you can get the proper attention.
Questions and points that need to be addressed.
1. Will thefiringline.com host the official petition text to give it a proper home and put it as an option to select on the home page?
2. Who exactly will the petition be sent to? · Should they be sent directly to the court?
· How do we guarantee they will be reviewed?
3. What constitutes the proper construction of a petition?
4. What constitutes a valid signature on a petition?
5. Is it necessary to have one official text in order to emphasize solidarity on the issue?
6. Can we get links to the official petition from other pro-gun sites such NRA, GOA, SAF, CCRKBA etc?
7. What else can we do to the spread the petition?
The text of the petition:
1.We the People of the United States, in concern for the deterioration of the constitution of this most perfect union, respectfully request the highest court in this land to affirm the freedom, the rights, and power of the people, as guaranteed by the constitution, and as enumerated and acclaimed in the bill of rights.
2.We ask the court to recognize the bill of rights as a timeless declaration of human rights, and that all articles contained therein are as valid as when approved and recorded as the law of the land.
3.We ask the court to recognize the constitution has specific provision for modification to the articles and content contained therein and the legislative and executive branches of government are not empowered to modify or restrict the statement of the constitution without due process.
4.We ask the court to recognize that all articles within the Bill of Rights enumerate individual rights which predate government, and therefore not susceptible to abridgment or revocation by government for any reason.
5.We ask the court to recognize that legislation controlling ownership and possession of arms, such as but not limited to waiting periods, licensing, registration, purchase quotas, permission to buy, storage, concealed carry, or to otherwise rule the "who, what, when, where, and how" to keep and bear arms is an infringement.
6.We ask the court to recognize, that the right to keep and bear arms is not restricted to the militia but is the right of choice of all free people as the responsibility for the security of the free state rest in the hands of the people.
7.We ask the court to recognize the people are the government, and the intent of the bill of rights is to control the elected government representatives, any compromise of the bill of rights reduces the power of the people and the ability to self govern.
8.In recognition of the forgoing, we ask the court to rule in favor of the individual right to keep and bear arms with specific language preventing congress and the president from qualifying the type, quantity, location, time, who, method and means.
Respectfully Submitted,
We the People
[This message has been edited by Jace (edited January 05, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by Jace (edited January 06, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by Jace (edited January 10, 2000).]
I envision that we hammer out the language of the petition online and then make the text and instructions available to all interested parties. Individuals would then print copies for signature and mail in the completed petitions as they become filled with signatures.
This would be quick and very inexpensive for individual clubs to do and would allow our voice be heard without the need for the traditional media. It would further our cause to get the petition out to the streets by putting packets in the local shooting and sporting supply stores in your area. Use any outlet where you think you can get the proper attention.
Questions and points that need to be addressed.
1. Will thefiringline.com host the official petition text to give it a proper home and put it as an option to select on the home page?
2. Who exactly will the petition be sent to? · Should they be sent directly to the court?
· How do we guarantee they will be reviewed?
3. What constitutes the proper construction of a petition?
4. What constitutes a valid signature on a petition?
5. Is it necessary to have one official text in order to emphasize solidarity on the issue?
6. Can we get links to the official petition from other pro-gun sites such NRA, GOA, SAF, CCRKBA etc?
7. What else can we do to the spread the petition?
The text of the petition:
1.We the People of the United States, in concern for the deterioration of the constitution of this most perfect union, respectfully request the highest court in this land to affirm the freedom, the rights, and power of the people, as guaranteed by the constitution, and as enumerated and acclaimed in the bill of rights.
2.We ask the court to recognize the bill of rights as a timeless declaration of human rights, and that all articles contained therein are as valid as when approved and recorded as the law of the land.
3.We ask the court to recognize the constitution has specific provision for modification to the articles and content contained therein and the legislative and executive branches of government are not empowered to modify or restrict the statement of the constitution without due process.
4.We ask the court to recognize that all articles within the Bill of Rights enumerate individual rights which predate government, and therefore not susceptible to abridgment or revocation by government for any reason.
5.We ask the court to recognize that legislation controlling ownership and possession of arms, such as but not limited to waiting periods, licensing, registration, purchase quotas, permission to buy, storage, concealed carry, or to otherwise rule the "who, what, when, where, and how" to keep and bear arms is an infringement.
6.We ask the court to recognize, that the right to keep and bear arms is not restricted to the militia but is the right of choice of all free people as the responsibility for the security of the free state rest in the hands of the people.
7.We ask the court to recognize the people are the government, and the intent of the bill of rights is to control the elected government representatives, any compromise of the bill of rights reduces the power of the people and the ability to self govern.
8.In recognition of the forgoing, we ask the court to rule in favor of the individual right to keep and bear arms with specific language preventing congress and the president from qualifying the type, quantity, location, time, who, method and means.
Respectfully Submitted,
We the People
[This message has been edited by Jace (edited January 05, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by Jace (edited January 06, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by Jace (edited January 10, 2000).]