Reprinted with permission. Please follow the link for comments that are there.
Image: A.Bouchard
The newest “line in the sand” has been drawn, a Washington D.C. hostile takeover of your freedoms in the form of a push to make Puerto Rico a part of the Federal Union.
From the news – House Approves Puerto Rico Statehood Measure, “The House voted Thursday to allow Puerto Ricans to change the island’s commonwealth status, in what critics are saying is a backdoor attempt to force Puerto Ricans into choosing U.S. statehood…which passed 223-169 and now must be taken up by the Senate, would introduce a two-step ballot measure for Puerto Rico to decide if its residents want to change their current relationship with the United States”.
This is happening despite the incompatibility of the Constitution of this unincorporated U.S Territory, specifically the right to keep and bear arms. Unlike our Republic (a nation of Constitutional laws), Puerto Rico by a review of their Constitution and the actions of their Parliament, Puerto Rico is a Democracy (of men). Ever wondered the difference between a Republic and a Democracy, well the answers are right here. Just read on…
REPUBLIC VS. DEMOCRACY
Puerto Rico’s Constitution states it is a Democracy-
Section 19. The foregoing enumeration of rights shall not be construed restrictively nor does it contemplate the exclusion of other rights not specifically mentioned which belong to the people in a democracy. The power of the Legislative Assembly to enact laws for the protection of the life, health and general welfare of the people shall likewise not be construed restrictively.
By contrast the Wyoming Constitution clearly defines the form of government as Republic-
97-1-007 – Absolute, arbitrary power over the lives, liberty and property of freemen exists nowhere in a republic, not even in the largest majority.
Also to be noted there is no mention of the “right to keep and bear arms” in the Puerto Rican Constitution, but the Wyoming Constitution states this-
97-1-024 – The right of citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and of the state shall not be denied.
Motive – If Puerto Rico is forced into Statehood by Congress they will have a new partner to impose strict gun control in the U.S. and this backdoor attempt is just another step toward full federal control.
Nothing new here! In fact, similarly states like New York and California have become enemies to liberty in Wyoming by imposing their will in our state on issues such as land, wildlife and mining. More recently, legislation has been introduced in Washington that could alter “Water Rights” in Wyoming forever.
Obama started to circle the wagons while campaigning in Puerto Rico in 2008, as you will see in this video.
With the recently passed HealthCare Mandate and the coming Value Added Tax (VAT) and ”Cap and Trade”, it should be even more alarming that – this combined with new found allies supporting full “gun control”…Well, I believe you see the big picture.
A summary of Puerto Rico’s GUN CONTROL-
- “FULL GUN REGISTRATION” scheme in place, “Any legal firearm…shall be registered in the registry of weapons”. You notice “legal firearm”? Once again criminals are exempt, only law abiding citizens must ask permission and register their firearms.
- Licensing, you must ask the Government to purchase and possess firearms and ammunition.
- Clinton style weapons ban in full force.
- The government has the ability to seize weapons as they see fit.
- Strict ammo purchase and possession scheme, one cannot possess ammunition for which you do not have a licensed firearm.
- If you fail to license all of your activities including “target shooting” you are guilty of a felony and will be imprisoned.
- BUT OF COURSE, in Puerto Rico…ALL Government officials (even the Parliament) can have special privileges to carry and possess firearms.
The Puerto Rican Government stated this about the New Weapons Act of Puerto Rico in 2000 – “By enacting this law, the State exercised its inherent power of regulation”.
It is this very thing that concerned the Founders as well as the Wyoming Legislature in 1889, “a government that CAN and WILL push to take away your inalienable rights”.
By contrast the Wyoming Constitution says this-
97-1-001 – All power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety and happiness; for the advancement of these ends they have at all times an inalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper.
I will leave you with this last thought – It has never been so important to be a “vested” member in WyGO – Wyoming Gun Owners.
Research sources:
Wyoming Constitution
New Weapons Act of Puerto Rico 2000
Amendments in 2002
Puerto Rico Constitution
Anthony Bouchard is a staunch supporter of the Bill of Rights and limited government – he is also the Director of WyGO – Wyoming Gun Owners Association, Wyoming’s Only No-Compromise Gun-Rights Organization. Anthony is also the – Cheyenne Government Examiner.
Tags: freedom, Gun Control, Liberty, News, Politics, Puerto Rico, Second Amendment, Wyoming
Conservative Libertarian Outpost 
May 4, 2010 at 14:13
Interesting take Patrick. I had not linked gun control to Puerto Rican statehood. Very interesting.
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May 4, 2010 at 14:24
Gun control, welfare, and a lot of other things as well.
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May 4, 2010 at 15:01
I had made the welfare connection..but gun control was a new take. The pea beneath the mattress perhaps….
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May 5, 2010 at 13:16
Like Chuck, I had not made the connection with 2nd Amendment rights, but I’m sure there are other socialist kudos in the proposal. I just lost it when I saw they did this. My thinking was they are “trying to manipulate the election” in November.
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May 6, 2010 at 06:37
The plan also includes a renewed push to incorporate Washington, D.C. as an additional state. Obviously, these two new voting blocks (complete with built-in Democratic Congressional members) would be a great asset in implementing the agenda of the Left and achieving the centralization of government by the even more frantic expansion of Federal control.
All of this makes it vital to remove control of Congress from the hands of the Progressives by rejecting their lapdogs at the voting booths this November.
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May 6, 2010 at 12:30
Thanks for stopping by HAM!
Perzactly Maine! As a friend of mine likes to say. Thing of it is? It has become more then obvious that they are ramming as much as possible through before the election. Getting a law pulled is a lot tougher than stopping it/them in the first place.
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August 21, 2010 at 23:30
OK there is misconception here about the constitution of the commonwealth because nowehere it states that it is formed as populist democracy and in fact the form of government is pretty much republican in nature. The preamble does say to uphold democratic principles but as in principles of freedom by the rule of law and not mob rule.
Another thing that has to be understood is that we are not as easily bought as many here apparently think. We have learned to be wary of vultures in politics specially with our own local stock of vultures in the government thank you very much.
So when we do become a State eventually we will not be any more of threat than Hawaii or Alaska was.
Most fellow Boricuas love freedom as much as any of you and abhor what Oblongo is doing.
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August 22, 2010 at 08:54
Thanks for the info PM.
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