Vermont stole my idea...

[OldOwl]

and I'm glad they did. I posted this idea last year in a few places, never dreaming it might come to fruition. My other idea which went with it was to make people who create "Gun free zones" buy liability insurance for it.

Here's what I just got in an email, and I haven't confirmed it, but I like it.


.................................................. ......................................


> Vermont State Rep. Fred Maslack has read the Second Amendment to the
> U.S. Constitution, as well as Vermont 's own Constitution very
> carefully, and his strict interpretation of these documents is popping
> some eyeballs in New England and elsewhere.
>
> Maslack recently proposed a bill to register "non-gun-owners" and
> require them to pay a $500 fee to the state. Thus Vermont would
> become the first state to require a permit for the luxury of going
> about unarmed and assess a fee of $500 for the privilege of not owning
> a gun.
>
> Maslack read the "militia" phrase of the Second Amendment as not only
> affirming the right of the individual citizen to bear arms, but as a
> clear mandate to do so. He believes that universal gun ownership was
> advocated by the Framers of the Constitution as an antidote to a
> "monopoly of force" by the government as well as criminals.
>
> Vermont 's constitution states explicitly that "the people have a
> right to bear arms for the defense of themselves and the State" and
> those persons who are "conscientiously scrupulous of bearing arms"
> shall be required to "pay such equivalent." Clearly, says Maslack,
> Vermonters have a constitutional obligation to arm themselves, so that
> they are capable of responding to "any situation that may arise."
>
> Under the bill, adults who choose not to own a firearm would be
> required to register their name, address, Social Security Number, and
> driver's license number with the state. "There is a legitimate
> government interest in knowing who is not prepared to defend the state
> should they be asked to do so," Maslack says.
>
> Vermont already boasts a high rate of gun ownership along with the
> least restrictive laws of any state .. it's currently the only state
> that allows a citizen to carry a concealed firearm without a permit.
> This combination of plenty of guns and few laws regulating them has
> resulted in a crime rate that is the third lowest in the nation.
>
> "America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the
> system, but too early to shoot the bastards."
>
> This makes sense! There is no reason why gun owners should have to
> pay taxes to support police protection for people not wanting to own
> guns. Let them contribute their fair share and pay their own way.

[surfcc]

Great post Old Owl! Thank you. Even if it doesn't get any traction in VT, it will surley raise the hackles of the anti-gun crowd.

[ClearSightTactical]

Wow! 50 states should implement this!

[dendrokeeper]

and double the fee for politicians who own guns and want to take them away from the public.

[Retired Grunt]

and double the fee for politicians who own guns and want to take them away from the public.

+100

[tattedupboy]

On a more serious note, though, just like the rights of gun owners should be respected, so too should the rights of people who choose not to keep and bear arms.

[Retired Grunt]

Is there an amendment for the right to not keep and bear arms?

[OldOwl]

I sent a letter to my state rep tonight telling him this is a great idea to raise revenue since we are broke here in assachusetts. Our idiot governor (a friend of Obama) saw we were having a shortfall in tax revenue last year, so he RAISED taxes. How stupid is that? so now, a year later he decides to FINALLY cut services. I know this won't fly in the progressive state but I'm still going to rub their noses in it and see if GOAL might get behind this idea.

I see my rep in person about once a month and he said he "Likes to hear from his constituents," so, he's hearing from me.

Here's a little more on it, there's a good amount if you google it, AND this includes the rest of my thoughts about the gun free zone.

Calcasieu Constitutionalists: Register Non-Gun Owners

[capo2186]

Great post!