The Battle Over Amendment Two
By: Nina Criscuolo
Updated: October 30, 2012
Louisiana voters are faced with nine constitutional amendments this election season. The second would affirm the right to keep and bear arms as a fundamental right in the state. It seems simple, but not everyone is aiming to vote yes.
"We want to affirm that the right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental right in Louisiana, so if anybody tries to impinge on that right, those laws would be declared unconstitutional under our state law as well as federal law," says Representative Jay Morris, who helped author the bill.
In 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court decided 5-4 a law prohibiting guns to be used in self-defense was unconstitutional.
"If President Obama appoints a liberal supreme court justice to replace a conservative one, that could flip-flop," says Rep. Morris.
ULM political analyst John Sutherlin is less concerned about the right being taken away any time soon.
"I remember prior to Obama being elected there was this fear that all of sudden you couldn't get a bullet, or a bow and arrow, or a sharp, pointy stick, but there's no shortage of any of those things," he says.
Still Sutherlin predicts the amendment will pass. That's why Louisiana Democrats are speaking out against it. Representative Terry Landry released a statement warning voters this month.
"During the hearings on this bill, I asked the chief proponent of this bill if there was any limit to where he wanted people to be able to carry gun. He said he wanted no limits that he wanted them everywhere. That comment makes me shudder every time I think of it. I'm voting 'no' on amendment two," said Rep. Landry.
Morris says "If you are for a firm right to keep and bear arms you should vote for this amendment."
Either way, Sutherlin believe the right will remain.
"The 14th amendment extends protections in the first 10 amendments, the Bill of Rights to the states. Why a state would feel it necessary to get into the issue of extending second amendment protections further is unclear," he says.
Election Day is November 6th.
"We want to affirm that the right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental right in Louisiana, so if anybody tries to impinge on that right, those laws would be declared unconstitutional under our state law as well as federal law," says Representative Jay Morris, who helped author the bill.
In 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court decided 5-4 a law prohibiting guns to be used in self-defense was unconstitutional.
"If President Obama appoints a liberal supreme court justice to replace a conservative one, that could flip-flop," says Rep. Morris.
ULM political analyst John Sutherlin is less concerned about the right being taken away any time soon.
"I remember prior to Obama being elected there was this fear that all of sudden you couldn't get a bullet, or a bow and arrow, or a sharp, pointy stick, but there's no shortage of any of those things," he says.
Still Sutherlin predicts the amendment will pass. That's why Louisiana Democrats are speaking out against it. Representative Terry Landry released a statement warning voters this month.
"During the hearings on this bill, I asked the chief proponent of this bill if there was any limit to where he wanted people to be able to carry gun. He said he wanted no limits that he wanted them everywhere. That comment makes me shudder every time I think of it. I'm voting 'no' on amendment two," said Rep. Landry.
Morris says "If you are for a firm right to keep and bear arms you should vote for this amendment."
Either way, Sutherlin believe the right will remain.
"The 14th amendment extends protections in the first 10 amendments, the Bill of Rights to the states. Why a state would feel it necessary to get into the issue of extending second amendment protections further is unclear," he says.
Election Day is November 6th.
Comments
This amendment will pass overwhelmingly, as it should.
Harvey S.
November 2, 2012 at 10:34 am
I'm all for it.
We have to protect our selves some how, and don' give me that it will keep the criminals from committing crimes. They already have their illegal gun!
Daniel D.
October 30, 2012 at 9:00 am
