It’s been a good time lately for quotes:
So what do you think Peter Hamm is doing right now? We can take solace knowing that Paul Helmke’s Turkey Day will be spent on the phone with lawyers.
– Bitter’s response to me being nervous about Heller
I feel better already.
Don’t be nervous Sebastion. This is the best case at the best time to take to the Men in Black. It had to happen sooner or later and now we will witness history.
Now if you’ll please excuse me, I need to go shopping for another gun.
Remember, the folks on the Titanic were witnessing history too :)
Last time I checked, 7 of the 9 sitting Justices were put their by Republican presidents. I will be the first one to admit this means little, but how would you feel if I had said 7 of the 9 were put their by Democrats?
The real question is whether or not these 9 people will put aside their bais and look purely at the law, and the Founding Fathers own words.
The other thing to consider is that the SCOTUS has a collection of dictionaries from different time periods in our nation’s history simply because the meanings of words change over time. What do you suppose the definition for the word “militia” is from a late 18th century dictionary?
Washington himself saw a clear distinction between the professional army and the militia fighters.
I have been informed, that Ticondergoa, properly garrisoned and supplied with provision and ammuniton, is almost impregnable, even at a season of the year when an army can lie before it with the greatest conveniency. If so, instead of calling up a number of useless hands and mouths, for such I deem the militia generally, I would advise the collecting of as much provisions as can possibly be got together, which, if sufficient for nine thousand effective men, of which number your army consisted by General Arnold’s letter, I should imagine you could keep Burgoyne and Carelton at bay, till the rigor of the season would oblige them to raise the siege, not only from want of conveniences to keep the field, but from the fear that freezing of the Lake would make their return impracticable in case of accident. I would recommend the removal of carriages and draft-cattle of all kinds from the country adjacent, that, if they should attempt to slip by Ticonderoga, by any other route, and come down upon the setlements, the plan should be rendered abortive for want of the means of conveyance for their baggage and stores. I am unacquainted with the extent of your works, and consequently ignorant of the number or men necessary to man them. If your present numbers should be insufficient for that purpose, I would then by all means advise your making up the deficiency out of the best regulated militia that can be got.
— George Washington (The Writings of George Washington, pp. 503-4, (G.P. Putnam & Sons, pub.)(1889))
It’s acephalous poultry time over in the Brady Bunch.