Constitutional Amendment to Right to Bear Arms

[Peter]

*Bangs Gavel*

This 7th Session of the Senate of the Republic is hereby called to order.

Our opening piece of legislation to the floor is the following, as introduced by Senator Sam Spade:

Constitutional Amendment to the Right to Bear Arms Clause in the Bill Of Rights, Article VI, Clause 4

Article VI, Clause 4 shall be struck from the Constitution of the Republic of Atlasia and replaced with the following amendment which shall replace the eliminated clause as Article VI, Clause 4:

The right to bear fire-arms and low-potency explosives shall not be infringed.  The definition of a low-potency explosive may be determined by the Senate in appropriate legislation.

[Peter]

Is it just me, or does 99 people still seem a wee bit high. I mean, the only things capable of killing that many people with one "instantaneous initiation" of a weapon are going to be explosive in effect, and the sort of stuff that you are approaching for this sort of explosive effect is artillery shells and mortars.

In my opinion, this number needs to be moderated down somewhat.

[Peter]

With an active NRA and pro gun owner's rights constituency, I don't see any Senator that pushes for heavy and oppresive control on explosives lasting beyond the term they propose it.

Less than a year has passed since Marriage Equity; Had anybody asked me last November the effect of attempting to repeal it, I would have said exactly what you just said - it'll kill them come re-election.

My point - times change quickly in Atlasia, and you have to be here a while to realise it.

[Peter]

Once again we have come upon a situation where an amendment to this legislation has been proposed and almost immediately come up to a vote, and whats worse but the time before it went to vote was probably some of the quietest in the day - I certainly didn't see it myself.

I cannot stress how bad I think it is for decision making for amendments to be moved directly to vote without giving Senators at least 24 hours to voice their views on the matter - and to then let debate flow its natural course before calling the vote.

I can't let this by-the-by attitude of the Senate continue, where it starts voting on things as important as this without really considering its consequences.

[Peter]

You're not for banning fireworks, but fireworks are a "low-potency explosive", so not having that term in there would leave the banning of fireworks wide open.

I think his point is that whilst this Amendment would guarantee the right to bear fireworks, it could arguably also guarantee the right to bear other things that we really shouldn't be granting a right to bear, probably mortars and other stuff that has a serious ability to do damage.

[Peter]

My point was mainly that by allowing everybody the right to own mortars and grenades and whatnot, we're also allowing psychos to do the same.  As far as the constitutional amendment goes, fine.  But I would expect some pretty restrictive legislation to go with it, in order to prevent this.

Well it is within the Senate's powers to define what a low-potency explosive is or what is low-potency.

Not anymore - Sam's amendment to this removed such power, and effectively final decision of quite what our intent was will be decided in the Courts. Which is amusing because I'm not entirely sure that anybody really knows what our intent is.

[Peter]

With 6 votes for, 1 against, 1 abstention and two not voting, this amendment has passed.

Voting will now begin on the Amendment as a whole which reads:

The right to keep and bear fire-arms and low-potency explosives shall not be infringed.

All Senators please vote Aye/Nay/Abstain.

[Peter]

With eight votes in favor to one against, this amendment has passed.

So, uh, who sets up the regional votes?  Is that me, or the governors of those regions, or what?

Article VII, Section 1:

The Senate, whenever two-thirds of its number shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of this Constitution when ratified by a majority of the People voting in public polls in three-quarters of the Regions. Such votes shall last for exactly one week and shall be administered by the Governor of the Region or other officer as the Law of the Region may provide. Citizens will cast their vote by public post.

[Peter]

Regardless of when the Regions poll on this issue, this leaves an open slot on the floor of the Senate to be filled, and even though the ultimate conclusion of what happens with this is not known, I suggest we move on.