Willfully Throwing Rights Away For “Safety”

Intentionally involving the police in matters where police are not an optimal resource can end in undesired results (arrest, injury, death). By calling, you are inviting armed people into a situation where they may not be the best responders for the job. Not all police officers are trained mediators, mental health crisis workers, or negotiators.

Now apply the same logic to red flag laws. Not only are red flag laws putting people in undue danger by involving law enforcement but it violates the citizen’s 4th Amendment rights. Here is a refresher of the 4th Amendment:
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

How does the Gov’t determine mental issue or defect to act on these red flag reports? Anything could qualify because there is no such thing as normal anymore. What was at one time deemed normal is abnornal- outside the norm.

Now add a dash of 2nd Amendment:
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

So violate a citizen’s rights against unlawful search and seizure but also remove their right to bear Arms.

How about some 14th amendment due process doctrine? How can we say red flag laws are valid?
“No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

Next logical step in this infringement dance is that the potential victims of the confiscation would be effectively muted by the govt. Oh, that’s just the 1st amendment–why not trample on that?

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

You can hide, stick your head in the sand, or stand and represent yourself as a citizen of the United States. Fight against these infringements by voting, notifying your representatives of your displeasure of the direction our system has gone, sharing these messages to others, and supporting rights groups like the Firearms Policy Coalition. Spreading the word and helping with awareness requires active efforts.

No more standing idly by.

-Matt