So, it's Constitution Day. To help celebrate this occasion, I thought it might be fun to share one of the more amusing stories of a proposed constitutional amendment. On reflection, it does seem to make a lot of sense today...
In 1922, Wisconsin representative Victor Berger proposed a constitutional amendment to abolish the United States Senate. You can sense his frustration level from the preamble to his proposed amendment.
A Constitution Day Reminder About… Guns
How quickly we forget the simplicity and elegance of our Constitution. Politicians and a complicit media gleefully ignore the rules set forth in our national owners manual, allowing elected officials, in reality, our employees and servants, to run amok.
One of the shortest, and most poorly understood concepts comes from the Bill of Rights — the Second Amendment to be more specific. On this prelude to Constitution Day, I thought you might enjoy a quick excerpt from my book, The Practical Guide to the United States Constitution.
Regulate This
Once again, the Second Amendment debate is front and center in the news. Whenever people violate the rules of human decency, exposing foundational flaws in our society even a turnip knows will never be fixed with some new law, people scream for action. “Just do something!”Predictably, the “do something” drumbeat points to proposed new gun laws and a challenge to the Second Amendment in principle. Then the pontificating begins (from those who’ve not read seven syllables of writings by our country’s founders) with, let’s say, creative and again predictable, hot takes.
The French Do Something Right
French military jokes tend to write themselves, and somehow, French arms haven’t always enjoyed the satisfaction of a durable martial reputation.
So, let’s go ahead and get this out of the way so we can proceed to the story at hand … Do you know why French tanks are designed with one forward and five reverse gears? In case they have to retreat straight ahead. Ba-da-bing!
Now I’ve gotten it out of my system; it’s time to heap some well-deserved praise on a French arms maker.
Charm School for Shooting Range Etiquette?
When I grow up, I’m going to start a charm school for shooting. You know, like cotillion. That’s where exasperated parents sent we poorly behaved children to learn about proper fork and spoon use and doing the Foxtrot safely while wearing braces. With all my cotillion penance, I don’t remember a single field trip to the shooting range. To me, that spells opportunity.
A Day in the Life… of Big Government Mandates
The most frightening thing about this rash of mandates and “show me your papers” requirements is how it’s setting up a never-ending barrage of similar behavior. Under the logic of “for the public’s health,” we’re turning one small step into a giant leap, straight into a pile of…