Delonte Arrested? (Windy article p. 31)

fat hillybilly redneck headin out to shoot a dear with 2 pistols and a shotgun

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My civil rights is bein' violated, right there. Hell, I can even spell deer, but y'all still think all rednecks is stupid. That ain't right.

Seriously, US citizens have the constitutional right to bear arms. The founding fathers wrote that into the constitution along with all of the checks and balances with intent, which is why that right has been upheld at every turn. If your happy in your country without this right, power to you, live long and prosper. But there are many subcultures in the US that regard this as a symbolic right to freedom, evidence that citizens are independent entities and that the goverment serves the citizen, not the other way around. If you remember that the US population is largely made up of refugees from oppression and slavery, abroad and at home , it will make a lot more sense that there is a strong attachment to self defense.

That said it is not a good idea for some people to be motoring around with three loaded concealed weapons. Particularly people fighting depression and bipolar disorder ought not do that. None the less, I think Delonte's carrying the guns on the road is not a big crime (and I think the charge is a misdemeanor), I think what concerns the Cavs is the behavior. If Delonte is bringing his arsenal to the Q, and he goes off his meds and has a blow up, like last years camp, there goes the franchise. Cavs are not gonna run that risk. He F'd up a good thing, and i don't see how he will talk his way out of this one.

Gun culture is a "symbolic right"

Wow!

That to me is a sad sad statement.

Honestly who gives a shit about whether the founding fathers or Dora the Explorer come up the bear to arms stuff, it is quite ridiculous no matter what background of the people of your country. Australia also is a highly immigrated country yet somehow hasn't managed to sink to those lows.

Do nothing wrong and you don't need any protecting.

No excuse for West for mine.

Karma said:

Gun culture is a "symbolic right"

Wow!

That to me is a sad sad statement.

Honestly who gives a shit about whether the founding fathers or Dora the Explorer come up the bear to arms stuff, it is quite ridiculous no matter what background of the people of your country. Australia also is a highly immigrated country yet somehow hasn't managed to sink to those lows.

Do nothing wrong and you don't need any protecting.

No excuse for West for mine.

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unfortunately, that statement just isnt true for some areas in the states.

It may be that way in Australia, Karma. But here, there are some areas where you can drive in at night, and have to walk out in the morning....if you're lucky.

Protection is never a bad thing.

Karma said:

Gun culture is a "symbolic right"

Wow!

That to me is a sad sad statement.

Honestly who gives a shit about whether the founding fathers or Dora the Explorer come up the bear to arms stuff, it is quite ridiculous no matter what background of the people of your country. Australia also is a highly immigrated country yet somehow hasn't managed to sink to those lows.

Do nothing wrong and you don't need any protecting.

No excuse for West for mine.

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Just for your education, the 2nd Amendment was put in so the States could form militias and take down the federal government if it got out of hand. A sort of ultimate check and balance. The original constitution was drafted giving only congress the right to raise an army and that made the oligarchy kind of nervous. Of course, it's been blown way out of proportion one way or another, but there is certainly plenty of historical documentation that describes what the intent of the legislators was at that time. It's laughable today of course, but 200+ years ago, tyranny from a far off government was a legitimate concern.

I still don't understand the need to carry a gun around in public. I've lived 26 years and have walked through some pretty shitty areas with a wallet, watch, phone, etc on me and never been mugged.

And if I was mugged and someone had a gun to my head, would I really have time to reach into my pocket, grab my gun, take the safety off and shoot the guy without getting myself killed? Don't these guys watch your pockets pretty closely when you pull something out of them?

I always thought having a gun on you was more of a liability, machismo thing than a real solution to problems you might face.

Jigo_oi said:

I still don't understand the need to carry a gun around in public. I've lived 26 years and have walked through some pretty shitty areas with a wallet, watch, phone, etc on me and never been mugged.

And if I was mugged and someone had a gun to my head, would I really have time to reach into my pocket, grab my gun, take the safety off and shoot the guy without getting myself killed? Don't these guys watch your pockets pretty closely when you pull something out of them?

I always thought having a gun on you was more of a liability, machismo thing than a real solution to problems you might face.

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I'm living in West Philly right now, and I was contemplating getting some sort of self defense, but I agree with you here Jigo. I would screw myself in that situation.

I'm not going to say how I fully feel about gun protection laws, because obviously, its a very complex issue that isn't black and white, and this statement below may actually be confusing as to where I stand on the whole, but I think a situation like that is a perfect example to look at the actual text of the Constitution:

"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."

In this instance, somewhat like Delonte's, I'm not protecting the freedom of the state of Ohio or Pennsylvania from a tyrannical government. Rather, some individual fool is trying to rob me; that's not a job for me, thats a job for the police. I think Delonte, if he is in fact in danger, should have notified the police to the situation. I understand "snitches get stitches", which some of you think is funny, but in terms of protecting all of us, guys like Delonte should refrain from trying to take justice into his own hand and let the police do their work.

bushwick_bill said:

If I would have it my way anyone who had a registered gun would be able to conceal arms on them...

The right to bear arms should not only apply to your home but in anyway you choose to travel...

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he was free to travel with the shotgun. He wasn't free to travel with handguns. Handguns are about 30% of guns in america, but are responsible for about 80% of gun violence.

How far would you extend the freedom you suggest. It reads as an absolute. Does that mean you'd let people carry loaded guns on airplanes? Bring them to bars and ball games where they are drinking and their judgement is impaired? Should they be able to carry hand grenades and other explosives?

How does driving with loaded weapons help ensure a "well regulated militia" as the 2nd amendment stated? It didn't say for personal safety, it didn't say for hunting, it didn't say for target practice. It said simply "a well regulated militia". It seems to me the full time US Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines do a fine job of protecting our country.

Me having a gun in my house that one of my kids could find and accidentally kill someone with wouldn't help protect our freedom one bit. Other free states, such as England and Australia, get along just fine without allowing their citizens to arm themselves.

LJ4MVP said:

It seems to me the full time US Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines do a fine job of protecting our country.
.

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LJ,

The militias are to either to help or counter the US Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. Essentially, the 2nd Amendment is the the citizens' check on the federal government. If the federal government becomes tyrannical, then the militias have the right to overthrow it, which was roughly how the Revolutionary War started.

I think it is a very important amendment, and it should be treated with respect, but I think it is also a valuable tool to teach our children in schools and even adults how our judicial systems work. Sorry for the PSA there.

AanandM7 said:

LJ,

The militias are to either to help or counter the US Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. Essentially, the 2nd Amendment is the the citizens' check on the federal government. If the federal government becomes tyrannical, then the militias have the right to overthrow it, which was roughly how the Revolutionary War started.

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If that was the case, what were you guys doing sitting on your hands during 2000-2008 when your government went all tyrannical?

Delonte stood up though and beared arms but must have been in some time warp on his way to DC not realizing the change in government since then. Thank god the cops got him when they did. :chuckles:

Karma said:

If that was the case, what were you guys doing sitting on your hands during 2000-2008 when your government went all tyrannical?

Delonte stood up though and beared arms but must have been in some time warp on his way to DC not realizing the change in government since then. Thank god the cops got him when they did. :chuckles:

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Woah, woah, woah....

You may not like the Bush administration, but thats taking it too far. Was it a controversial administration? Sure, but it wasn't tyrannical. I understand you have a different perspective, but there was no taxation without representation, troops weren't being stationed in our houses, and citizens weren't massacred.

What we've noticed under the past few administrations, including the current one, is the expansion of the executive branch, which the opposing political party will view as tyrannical. However, to confuse the modern administrations with King George III and the British Parliament is somewhat offensive, even to me who doesn't identify with a particular party.

Whilst it was a jab at your former government, it was more tongue in cheek then anything else.

AanandM7 said:

LJ,

The militias are to either to help or counter the US Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. Essentially, the 2nd Amendment is the the citizens' check on the federal government. If the federal government becomes tyrannical, then the militias have the right to overthrow it, which was roughly how the Revolutionary War started.

I think it is a very important amendment, and it should be treated with respect, but I think it is also a valuable tool to teach our children in schools and even adults how our judicial systems work. Sorry for the PSA there.

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do you really think citizens with handguns are going to stop the US Army if our government really became tyrannical?

It seems to me that the rest of the constitution makes the need to overthrow the government irrelevant. We don't have to fight a civil war to overthrow the government if they abuse their powers, all we have to do is vote.

LJ4MVP said:

do you really think citizens with handguns are going to stop the US Army if our government really became tyrannical?

It seems to me that the rest of the constitution makes the need to overthrow the government irrelevant. We don't have to fight a civil war to overthrow the government if they abuse their powers, all we have to do is vote.

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Well, we have had a civil war with the constitution in place, so its not that simple. Voting happens only once every 4 years for the executive branch, lots of damage can be done in that time, plus voting can be rigged.

The problem is, the forefathers could never had imagined the fire power that is available today. This is a modern problem not really addressed in the constitution. Plus, without military coup, and dont see how the current goverment could be overthrown. If you take all of the fire power of the americain ciitzens and band them together, do you think they could even come close to dealing with the air force and navy planes and their technolgy much less dealling with the ground forces of the army and the marines....throw in the national guard and it is obvious to me no militia could over throw this goverment. Coup would be the only way to forcefully overthrow the goverement.

Saterday Night Live had a spoof on Delonte. It was on weekend update, the guy basically said what happened and then followed with and thats why delonte is the most interesting man in the world with a dos equis symbol next to him.

Karma said:

Do nothing wrong and you don't need any protecting.

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With that logic, why even have a Bill of Rights?

Do nothing wrong, you'll be fine!

Who cares if the FBI raids your house for no good reason? Don't do anything and you'll be fine when they don't find anything!


Forget the 5th amendment, just don't do anything wrong and you can't incriminate yourself anyway, who needs the right to not incriminate themselves? JUST DON'T DO ANYTHING WRONG.

Please, these rights are to protect people from a unitary and oppressive government. I'm not condoning what Delonte did, but that statement really irks me. With that logic, we never would have had a Bill of Rights and we(the U.S.)probably would have gone down in flames of tyrannical warfare as a country before the 20th century even hit. You can't nitpick the Bill of Rights.