In the Republican debate between Senate hopefuls in California, broadcast yesterday, the primary candidates were asked whether folks should be able to purchase guns, even if they are on government watch lists. Carly Fiorina and Chuck Devore stood in support of the Second Amendment. Tom Campbell, however, took a hard-line approach against the constitutional right to bear arms.
Campbell is a career politician and, when he isn't in office, an academic. So perhaps he's a bit out of touch. But on this issue, he's even well to the left of Senate majority leader Harry Reid (who hasn't spoken out on this issue, but it's pretty safe to assume he's against stripping Second Amendment rights from Americans considering the Nevada senator has NRA support this election).
Let's do a little thought experiment: Should those on terror watch lists not be able to speak freely? Should those on terror watch lists not be able to practice religion? Should those on terror watch lists not be allowed to freely assemble? Using Campbell's reasoning, the answer to those questions would be yes. And this would undoubtedly be absurd. So, why should the rights afforded by the Second Amendment to American citizens not be upheld when a name appears on the terror watch list?
Government watch lists are useful, but they aren't reliable. The late Massachusetts senator Ted Kennedy was put on a no-fly list. And countless others have erroneously be placed on no-fly -- for no proper reason. The idea that one's rights should be squashed all because he's on some bureaucratic list is a direct assault on the right's afforded to Americans by the Constitution.