McDonald came down in our favor.
Link to a PDF of the decision here.
The Second Amendment now applies to the states through the 14th Amendment. Alito wrote the majority opinion, Scalia wrote a concurring opinion, and Breyer whined (a spine, grow one, Stoddard*). Weer’d points out that this will have huge impacts on state laws (and points to crying at The Huffer’s Postings). Jay G., Laurel,and Roberta X gloat a little bit, while Curt points to the VPC whining and Newbius points to some sobs by Dennis Henigan. Then Paul Helmke declared victory, while Uncle points to Pajamas Media debunking the VPC… with their own stats.
Breda points out the guy who did quite a bit of the work (Alan Gura), and to a movie critic being… stupid. Alan posts the picture Laurel referred to (yes, the Bradys are a hate group). Joe Huffman has a quote from the NRA– finally, a right promised is a right honored.
There are four quotes quotes I want to use here. The first is from Jennifer:
The gun banners have a warped view of the human race. They simultaneously believe that an inanimate object will turn a law abiding citizen into a crazed maniac and that the crazed maniac could peacefully exist in a society without the same inanimate object. Personally I do not believe that a person bent on violence will not be changed by a lack of tools. Likewise, a normally peaceful person will not be changed by the presence of said tool.
The next is from Tom at SCOTUSblog, via Uncle:
When Heller was decided, we had our biggest day ever, by far — 300,000 hits. Americans care about gun rights.
Then one from the Wall Street Journal, via USCitizen:
All of this suggests that the liberals have decided to bide their time and wait for a fifth vote so they can overturn both Heller and McDonald. This means that the matter of Second Amendment rights is far from settled, and the National Rifle Association and other advocates had better keep their legal guard up.
Finally, one from Steve Harris (a pro-gun attorney) via Massad Ayoob:
I think we need one more Supreme Court case on guns to make it clear to the circuit courts what they mean about reasonable regulation. That will take about 3-5 years to percolate.
So, after putting it all together, we “gun nuts” just took a big step towards real freedom. But we have to be vigilant for the next few years, until all the kinks get straitened out.
Senator Byrd is now facing the Eternal Elector.
Or, as Tam phrased it: “The Grim Reaper invoked cloture on Robert C. Byrd’s filibuster today.”
That’s right, the only Klansman in the Senate has passed on to his eternal reward. The left is already trying to spin his past involvement with the KKK in a positive light– the South made him do it! Yes, us dastardly Rebels made him join the Klan, made him become a KKK recruiter, and made him vocally support the Klan. Don’t venture south of the Mason-Dixon Line, Yanks, or we’ll turn our magical KKK Ray on you!
As both Weer’d and Mike W. pointed out, if Byrd did change his mind, where was his change in actions? If the former Klucker was no longer a Klucker, where was his activism AGAINST the Klan? You see, of the people in my blogroll, some of the most outspoken are those who had been in the groups they speak out against. (Mike Vanderboegh and Weer’d come to mind…) I mean, this is the guy who said this:
I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my side… Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds.
— Robert C. Byrd, in a letter to Sen. Theodore Bilbo (D-MS), 1944
Which brings me to a quote by Linoge:
Should Senator Byrd be remembered? Absolutely – as an shining example of what not to do. However, as sure as I am that he and Teddy are bumping knuckles today, I am just as certain that the Democratic Party and Mainstream Media (but I repeat myself) are doing their absolute damnest to ensure that Robert’s disgusting legacy is celebrated… which kind of says something about those folks with the “D” after their names, does it not?
Indeed– if the Dems were truly as nice, kind, pro-minority as they proclaimed… well, they wouldn’t be the Democratic Party. Just remember, folks– this was the song the DNC used in 1864… they were Copperheads then, and they’re Copperheads still. For reference, compare the treatment of Byrd to the treatment of Thurmond.
Though I do wonder what Byrd was thinking when he was waving the flag as a “race mongrel” became President…
General McChrystal forgot an old adage.
You know, the one about how “the slow blade penetrates the shield.” The fact that Rolling Stone was the one that brought him down is ironic, because… well, I’ll quote from this op-ed:
Since the end of the draft, the officer corps has become increasingly conservative and libertarian, and it is a rare officer who votes as a Democrat. [...] [C]urrently, the overwhelming majority of senior officers are registered Republicans, and there are very few registered Democrats. Special operations officers are even more conservative than their traditional brethren… [...] Ironically, McChrystal is a registered Democrat, a social liberal, and an Obama supporter in the 2008 election.
General, what did Barry say to you in that meeting? Was it “YES, I CAN!” Having said that (with as much snark as I can muster), I’m sorry to see the General retire– McChrystal reminded me of Colonel Hackworth, who was one of my favorite writers and a man I much respected. I just think it’s ironic that a leftist mag took down a leftist General who supported the leftist President that fired him… and replaced him with a General who has won an award from the AEI and been attacked by the Left. (Dear MoveOn– choke on your “Betray Us” line. We remember it, bet on that.)
* Oh, come on, somebody has to catch that…
