Dear Friends,                                         The 2^nd Amendment needs help, lots of it

Another killing by ICE-CBP agents of another American citizen. The videos contradict the lying statements by Noem, who once again claims to know what happened – that the victim aimed to inflict maximum damage on the poor ICE-CBP agents – before any investigation. They show that the victim was overwhelmed by at least half a dozen federal agents, he was on the ground, under them, and his holstered gun was taken by an agent, seconds before the shots. It’s hard to see that any of the agents could have thought their lives were in danger. So, prima facie, another murder.

Any statements by any member of the “federal government”, top to bottom, and yes, top, in this as in all other cases must be presumed a lie until verified by reliable sources, more than one if possible. Noem exemplifies the necessity for this, though the others are no different.

We know not only the name, age and occupation of the victim, but a great deal more about him from relatives and friends. We also know that he was legally carrying a fire arm under Minnesota’s “concealed carry” law.

Kris Mayes, the Arizona Attorney General, recently warned that according to Arizona’s “Stand Your Ground” law, showdowns could occur between armed citizens and armed, masked federal agents not wearing proper uniforms or badges identifying them as federal agents.

Needless to say the MAGA lie brigade says that she is encouraging citizens to shoot federal agents. Rubbish. But there is a 2^nd Amendment problem here.

I’m against “Stand Your Ground” laws (and “Make My Day” laws), but they are the law in Arizona and other states. And they are the law only because of relentless propagandizing by the 2^nd Amendment folks and their masters in the firearms industry.

Of course there is a huge and dangerous potential conflict between MAGA gun-crazy individualism, often against the government, and MAGA gun-crazy cheerleaders for government oppression of anyone not like us, and using military means would be especially gratifying.

MAGAzens, you really do have a big problem here. So: which side are you on?

This is a very long shot, but maybe a way out is going back to the 2^nd Amendment, thinking about it and wondering if maybe you haven’t got it quite right? Your choice.

I’m against concealed carry laws (and most open carry laws as well), but they are the law in Minnesota and many other states. And they are the law for the same reason as “Stand Your Ground”, etc.: the firearms industry and their 2^nd Amendment enthusiast followers.

The victim in the most recent ICE–CBP killing was legally carrying a firearm under Minnesota’s concealed carry law – a Sig Sauer 9mm semi-automatic pistol, if you want to know. The Feds say he was brandishing this gun at them, later embellished by Bovino and Noem as “trying to inflict the maximum damage on them”. The video evidence contradicts this, he was, however, brandishing a phone.

To their credit, a number of 2^nd Amendment gun groups have attacked government officials for their statements. Patel seemed to say (he’s never very clear) that it was illegal to bring a gun to a demonstration. He has been roundly attacked by gun groups for this lie.

Here again the powers that be, MAGA in general, have got themselves into a mess. How can they possibly, now, start saying that people can’t walk around heavily armed, concealed or open? They passed all those laws! If they do they really are going to get hammered by the gun guys.

So, again, just a suggestion: maybe it’s time for a new discussion about those seemingly simple words: “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.”

I’m against “Stand Your Ground”, “Make My Day” and similar laws. I’m not only against most state “carry” laws, but against all the “laws” that have allowed the flooding of the US with guns of all types so that there are significantly more American guns than American people, all the laws permitted by District of Columbia vs Heller (2008) – a ruling responsible for … how many deaths? Someone needs to make the calculation. The arguments for “common sense” gun regulations are so obvious; it is so obvious that they do not violate the 2^nd Amendment.

Maybe this is the moment for 2^nd Amendment rights enthusiasts to re-join the normal conversation about gun rights and gun regulations. Marjorie Taylor Greene might even participate, she also has attacked the government line. Just saying her name emphasizes how unlikely such a development is. But who, a month or so ago could even have imagined saying it? I’m not going to invoke Mandela’s great sentence, it’s been too over-used. But the times they are a’changin’, and we better start swimmin’ or we’ll sink like a stone. And that includes giving Marje a chance: if people will do the good thing for bad reasons, don’t argue, just be thankful (that’s what my Pa, who knew what he was talking about, always said).

Bringing a legally owned gun to a protest confronting Federal agents is not a great idea: what use could it possibly be? At the same time, the evidence available at the moment indicates that Alex Pretti was not killed because he was carrying a gun.

I wish he hadn’t been a gun owner, that’s just my wish, the world is cold and hard.

Love and solidarity,

            Bobby

The Federal government no longer exists.