Deputy Attorney General Designate David Ogden is
circulating a draft of an executive order in which, among other things,
firearms possession would be severely limited to people over 60.
An assistant to Ogden told us, "It appears that in
these changing times, it is no longer necessary to allow the elderly to
be armed. With all of their physical ailments and increasing senility,
to leave them in control of a deadly weapon would be ludicrous."
While the Executive Order may sound too powerful,
experts in Constitutional law state that it is not actually
un-Constitutional.
"It's a question of wording." states Columbia Law
Professor, Dr. John Braxton. "The Constitution forbids the Congress,
that is, the legislative branch, from passing any laws infringing on gun
ownership. The executive branch is not included in this proviso. As long
as the Congress doesn't get involved, it's technically a non-issue."
The Justice Department was tossing the idea of a gun
ban for seniors during the Carter and Clinton Administration, but public
opinion stopped these initiatives. Now, the Obama White House believes
differently.
An unnamed aide close to Ogden agreed to talk on the
condition of anonymity.
"Clinton and Carter didn't have as much of a mandate
as President Obama. They were both Southerners, and the Second Amendment
was sacrosanct to their constituents. However, President Obama comes
from a new sort of politics, where divisive issues like firearms do not
apply to him."
"Quite frankly, it's a shame that no one has had the
good conscience to have done this already. It's a simple process, and
the majority of the American people will understand it and follow the
law."
The enforcement mechanism for this particular
executive order has not been published. It is likely that the
confiscation of weapons will be similar to Great Britain's handgun ban,
in which citizens willingly gave the weapons to police.
It is expected that the executive order will be given
around July 1, when senior-related gun deaths reach their peaks.
The aide to Ogden stated: "For eight years you see the
rolling back of regulation, and crime has skyrocketed. In fact, in
Massachusetts alone, murders have risen 50% since 2002. Armed robbery
has also risen dramatically. With such circumstances, we must act
boldly."
Gun sales in Florida have boomed since the election
and dealers are having difficulty keeping stocks in the store. Same is
reported all over the south and reports like this will only exacerbate
that problem. It's really amazing to me that this would even be
considered where there a no statistics to show that those over 60 cannot
handle their guns properly or contribute significantly to rising murder
rates. We certainly need another Charlton Heston!
