“I know I am speaking for tens of thousands of my fellow Montanans and tens of millions of my fellow Americans when I say what I’m about to say.
‘Red flag’ gun confiscation laws violate every principle of liberty upon which our country was founded. There is no due process associated with “red flag” laws. A judge’s order to seize the firearms from an American citizen who has not been accused of a crime, charged with a crime, convicted of a crime—or who never even threatened to commit a crime—based on the accusation of a single individual is anything but due process.
Our accuser could be a disgruntled employee, a bitter ex-spouse or relative, a vengeful neighbor, an anti-gun liberal or even an anti-gun policeman. By definition, “red flag” laws use mere suspicion of what one “might” do as justification to seize a person’s firearms. Tactics such as these have been used in virtually every despotic regime of history. In the name of protecting society, the rights and liberties of individuals were denied. Eventually, these repressive governments included political or religious persuasion as triggering “red flags,” which led to their disarmament—all in the name of public safety, of course.
You know as well as I do that when the rights of one American are abridged, the rights of all Americans are abridged. This is not yet a communist nation where the rights of the state—or even the rights of a majority of citizens—supersede the rights of the individual.
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‘Red flag’ laws turn the Bill of Rights and the fundamental legal doctrine that a man is innocent until proven guilty completely upside down. “Red flag” laws are a mockery to every constitutional principle of liberty since the Magna Carta. Seizing a citizen’s firearms by force (and thereby rendering him defenseless) without a crime being committed—or even the accusation of a crime being made—is old-fashioned TYRANNY. Such an act presumes a person is guilty until proven innocent.
Then there is this: After the guns are seized, it could take years for the victim to prove his innocence (or competence) and have his guns returned—and in what condition would they be when (and IF) returned? Furthermore, will you legislators, judges and police officers who collaborate to strip an innocent person’s ability to defend himself accept any responsibility when the real bad guys take advantage of this person’s vulnerability and invade his home and bludgeon or rape or even kill his family? Of course you won’t. But mark it down: You will be held responsible in the eyes of Almighty God—and in the eyes of the citizens you have victimized.” – Pastor Chuck Baldwin
Have you ever wondered what patriots heard from the pulpit while they were oppressed and occupied by the British?
Pastor Baldwin’s Liberty pulpit is still on fire. Join us 2:30 PM MST every Sunday at https://libertyfellowshipmt.com/
The quote: “‘Red flag’ gun confiscation laws violate every principle of liberty upon which our country was founded. There is no due process associated with “red flag” laws. A judge’s order to seize the firearms from an American citizen who has not been accused of a crime, charged with a crime, convicted of a crime—or who never even threatened to commit a crime—based on the accusation of a single individual is anything but due process.”
With some luck the stunningly egregious Constitutional violations of “red flag laws” will also draw some attention to the equally egregious unconstitutional Asset forfeture laws. Neither can be allowed to stand in a truly free Constitutional environment.
I think we should be equally outraged at the laws that take guns from anyone accused of domestic violence. It is rare that anyone accused of domestic violence uses a gun. It is far more common that the charge of domestic violence itself is used as a ploy to gain advantage in a divorce. I knew a divorce lawyer who would not take the case if the woman refused his advice to accuse her husband of domestic violence and file a RO.
The firearms law regarding domestic violence is retroactive. Think about that. Some people …… prior to enactment of the current background check laws ……. pleaded guilty to untrue misdemeanor domestic violence accusations but would not have done so if they knew future gun rights were at risk. I know someone in this category.
Additionally, I hate the “instant” computer background check. The NRA proposed this in lieu of a “waiting period”. I’d rather wait a few days rather than trust a government computer system. (In all fairness to the current system I have never failed a background check).