The Falsehood That 90% Of The People Cannot Be Wrong

semperfi71

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I do not know the actual numbers of Americans who supported the background check bill. I do not care.

Just because a LOT of people (even an overwhelming majority) think something is "right" or "wrong" doesn't mean that it has Constitutional authority.

A long time ago the majority of the people in this country, including politicians, and judges (including the majority of the Supreme Court) believed and enacted laws of slavery.

In WWII a large number of citizens, politicians, justices, and the PRESIDENT felt it was "legal" and "right" to force American citizens of Japanese ancestry into concentration camps.

Those politicians who voted against the background check bill obviously do not have an overwhelming majority of voters who supported the law either. Or...they voted their conscience against the wishes of their constituents. Which is something I think few politicians would have done.

But, understand this, in the future to come EVERY possible form of verbal assault, false portrayals, innuendo, lies, and threats will be used to assault the politicians who voted against the background check bill and to end their political careers.

We have only seen the beginning of nasty, distasteful lies and verbal abuse over gun control.
 
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I never pay any attention to media or political poles. Having a marketing background I know how you can manipulate questions and your data to show anything you want. I believe that is why we have to write, call, and email our elected officials our true view on the issues. When they have an overwhelming number of voters telling them one thing and their political party and the media telling them something else, I would hope that they would listen to their voters. The sad part is how people actually listen to the media without really thinking about the issues and the long term effects of those choices!
 
In a possible and more realistic vision of "his" 90% of the Americans who want more gun control, it is in reality just the majority of liberal population that makes up the 90%, I'm not certain what the other 10% are doing.
 
Just because a LOT of people (even an overwhelming majority) think something is "right" or "wrong" doesn't mean that it has Constitutional authority.
This is one of the reasons the Bill of Rights was enacted. There was argument that no Bill of Rights was needed, as everything in it was such an obvious right of free people. One argument for the Bill of Rights was that it preserved the rights of free people from the whims of the opinions of the majority.
 
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Perhaps 90% of the people queried do support more gun legislation. What is missing is any documentation as to who is that 90% . Could have been 90 people at a 100 person anti-gun rally. As long as the media supports this kind of unsubstantiated garbage the general public will eat it up. What really bothers me is that the so called politicians 'on our side' aren't calling it what it is...a massive lie. We lost the last election by being too polite and too nice and too PC. We need some people in DC to either speak up or get out of the way.
 
Maybe if the politicians would act on what's right or wrong or just stick to voting on principle instead of what would get them reelected so many people would not have such hatred of them and things might actually improve for the better. I have no problem with them voting on their beliefs even if I don't agree with them. It's when they try to pass things just to get themselves reelected.
 
Any discussion that revolves around the will of the majority simply misses the point. Individual rights are inherently possessed by all citizens (and legal residents), to be exercised without need of governmental permission.

The Constitution and Bill of Rights enumerates and guarantees those rights which were agreed to exist prior to adoption of those founding documents, thus serving to protect the individual from (what was called by Jefferson) "the tyranny of the majority".

In short, democracy is fine for dealing with any issues EXCEPT those involving the rights guaranteed under the Constitution, over which neither the majority nor the government have any lawful authority.

Rights are rights, to be exercised at individual discretion.

Privileges may be exercised only by those granted license by statute or government permit.

A small point to some, but actually this is the core issue in such discussions.
 
Any discussion that revolves around the will of the majority simply misses the point. Individual rights are inherently possessed by all citizens (and legal residents), to be exercised without need of governmental permission.

The Constitution and Bill of Rights enumerates and guarantees those rights which were agreed to exist prior to adoption of those founding documents, thus serving to protect the individual from (what was called by Jefferson) "the tyranny of the majority".

In short, democracy is fine for dealing with any issues EXCEPT those involving the rights guaranteed under the Constitution, over which neither the majority nor the government have any lawful authority.

Rights are rights, to be exercised at individual discretion.

Privileges may be exercised only by those granted license by statute or government permit.

A small point to some, but actually this is the core issue in such discussions.
Thank you for an obviously well informed post. I wish that people on both sides of the Second Amendment issue would study the history involved. When you have read the history, things become much clearer and arguments can be made based on facts instead of emotions. And the history is on our side.
 
The "majority of the people" (50.1%) elected Jimmy Carter, too. I guess we can blame Jerry Ford for that.

Sometimes you just have to shake your head and keep walking. :)
 
Any discussion that revolves around the will of the majority simply misses the point. Individual rights are inherently possessed by all citizens (and legal residents), to be exercised without need of governmental permission.

The Constitution and Bill of Rights enumerates and guarantees those rights which were agreed to exist prior to adoption of those founding documents, thus serving to protect the individual from (what was called by Jefferson) "the tyranny of the majority".

In short, democracy is fine for dealing with any issues EXCEPT those involving the rights guaranteed under the Constitution, over which neither the majority nor the government have any lawful authority.

Rights are rights, to be exercised at individual discretion.

Privileges may be exercised only by those granted license by statute or government permit.

A small point to some, but actually this is the core issue in such discussions.
This is why we are a Republic...not a democracy....look up the diffefrence between a democracy and a Republic......In a democracy...majority rules....In a Republic...the Majority can not vote away the rights of the minority....It has happened before in this country ....which is why "We the People" need to speak up and remind our elected officals that we have a Constitution and a Bill of Rights and to stick with it. This will be challanged again...but I thoink the people are wide awake this time. And we need to keep their feet to the fire.
 
I refuse to accept ANY politicians position that 90% support dismantling the 2nd. I say it's foolish to even consider such an absurd statement. By even considering that 90% might support "gun control" we give credence to the lie. Most people, as shown by gallup in numerous polls, do not care about it, do not support it, and only want existing laws enforced.
We are not the minority.
 
My point is that they do not vote what they're constitutes want. They vote based off of statistics on polls. A lot of people don't vote and shame on them, however if I would bet they majority of citizens would want to keep the second amendment, not change it for the worst.
 
I know a lot of gun owners and not one of them supported the proposed legislation. It started out at 71% and within a few days was over 90%........right! Who did the polling?
 
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