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Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear Arms?

Thunder

Thunder

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Its seems like some of the folks who soooo strongly support the unabridged & umimpeded right to keep & bear arms, seem to waver in their commitment to Freedom of Speech & Assembly.

...and of course, the other way around.

Which is more important: the Right to Keep & Bear Arms or Freedom of Speech & Assembly?

and what good is the Right to have guns if you won't use them to defend your fellow Americans' freedom of speech?
 
Re: Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear A

Even though I suspect this is a bait thread, I'll answer: If forced to choose, freedom of speech.
 
Re: Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear A

theplaydrive said:
Even though I suspect this is a bait thread, I'll answer: If forced to choose, freedom of speech.
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Yep, this one. Because with this one, I could get all the other rights lost back.
 
Re: Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear A

Your Star said:
Yep, this one. Because with this one, I could get all the other rights lost back.
Click to expand...
Exactly my reasoning.
 
Re: Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear A

I think Freedom of Speech is slightly more important than the right to bear arms.

why? cause the 2nd Amendment is pointless if its not being used to defend the right of The People to express grievances against their government.
 
Re: Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear A

Your Star said:
Yep, this one. Because with this one, I could get all the other rights lost back.
Click to expand...

That is so backwards. Without arms you will be shot when you open your mouth.
 
Re: Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear A

Henrin said:
That is so backwards. Without arms you will be shot when you open your mouth.
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Really? Because I don't have arms and I haven't been shot.
 
Re: Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear A

Henrin said:
That is so backwards. Without arms you will be shot when you open your mouth.
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most if not all protests in this country are not armed.
 
Re: Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear A

theplaydrive said:
Really? Because I don't have arms and I haven't been shot.
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Without arms you could or someone else could be shot for speaking and having nothing to do but bitch which would just get more of you shot.
 
Re: Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear A

The Second Amendment is the only thing that defends the First Amendment. Without the ability to defend oneself effectively all other freedoms slowly disappear. For those saying.... "But I don't own a gun and my Speech hasn't been infringed"..... That's because MY GUNS defend that Right of yours. Take the guns away from EVERYONE and all of the sudden the rest of the rights disappear quickly and permanently.

Give me an option between my guns and:.... my car, my job, or pretty much anything else in this world and I'll take the guns every day of the week, and twice on Sundays. With the guns I'll get the rest of the stuff back from you.
 
Re: Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear A

Henrin said:
That is so backwards. Without arms you will be shot when you open your mouth.
Click to expand...

I open my mouth all the time, have never owned a gun, have no interest in owning a gun, and I'm fairly certain I've never been shot.
 
Re: Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear A

It's really very simple. In a civilized society, where people aren't evil and violent, then free speech protects your other rights. In a barbaric society, you need weapons because people won't respect the rights of others without being forced to. I'm extremely glad that the live in an overwhelmingly peaceful and civilized society. Yes, there is evil and violence, but it is the exception, not the norm.
 
Re: Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear A

Aderleth said:
I open my mouth all the time, have never owned a gun, have no interest in owning a gun, and I'm fairly certain I've never been shot.
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That is because the guns are out there and the government is just not interested in killing you.
 
Re: Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear A

Paschendale said:
It's really very simple. In a civilized society, where people aren't evil and violent, then free speech protects your other rights. In a barbaric society, you need weapons because people won't respect the rights of others without being forced to. I'm extremely glad that the live in an overwhelmingly peaceful and civilized society. Yes, there is evil and violence, but it is the exception, not the norm.
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Can't always know what tomorrow holds.
 
Re: Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear A

Henrin said:
That is because the guns are out there and the government is just not interested in killing you.
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I agree that it's because the government has no interest in killing me. I think it really has very little to do with the fact that the guns are out there.
 
Re: Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear A

Thunder said:
Its seems like some of the folks who soooo strongly support the unabridged & umimpeded right to keep & bear arms, seem to waver in their commitment to Freedom of Speech & Assembly.

...and of course, the other way around.

Which is more important: the Right to Keep & Bear Arms or Freedom of Speech & Assembly?

and what good is the Right to have guns if you won't use them to defend your fellow Americans' freedom of speech?
Click to expand...

Both are equally important and should be upheld to their fullest.
 
Re: Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear A

Thunder said:
Its seems like some of the folks who soooo strongly support the unabridged & umimpeded right to keep & bear arms, seem to waver in their commitment to Freedom of Speech & Assembly.

...and of course, the other way around.

Which is more important: the Right to Keep & Bear Arms or Freedom of Speech & Assembly?

and what good is the Right to have guns if you won't use them to defend your fellow Americans' freedom of speech?
Click to expand...
I agree with the argument that the 2nd amendment was intended to preserve people the ability to defend themselves--not only against indians, outlaws, and hunger--but against a tyrannical government.

However, guns can just as easily be used by a minority to override the will of the majority. Freedom of speech doesn't carry with it as great a danger, and is often more effective a tool for keeping the government in check than marching against it with a gun. For that reason, I pick Freedom of Speech.
 
Re: Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear A

They are both vitally important and indispensible. Both are, IMO, virtually the sine-qua-non of freedom.






If you're going to tie this into OWS, though, freedom to peaceably assemble doesn't apply to law-breaking squatters.
 
Re: Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear A

Goshin said:
If you're going to tie this into OWS, though, freedom to peaceably assemble doesn't apply to law-breaking squatters.
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It actually does, but I don't think anyone was goes to make that connection. Like with all rights, removing the means to exercise it is just as unconstitutional as directly prohibiting it.

Henrin said:
Can't always know what tomorrow holds.
Click to expand...

No, I can't. But I do know what today and yesterday held. Rule of law in this country doesn't come from force, or from weapons. It comes from people's dedication. Even the unelected business owners whose money controls the political process in this country respect (to some degree) the rule of law. They twist and abuse it, but they attempt to work within it. You don't see assassins killing corporate rivals, do you? And when political leaders commit crimes (like Nixon's administration), they are still held accountable, because the people of this nation still believe in the rule of law. People don't believe in it as much lately, hence why so many indiscretions were allowed by the last administration.

I can't know what tomorrow will hold, but I can know what it probably will hold. History shows us a consistent march towards peace and order. I have little doubt that this trend will continue.
 
Re: Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear A

Your Star said:
Yep, this one. Because with this one, I could get all the other rights lost back.
Click to expand...

I think its the other way around. If someone tries to stifle freedom of speech and we can kill them we can protect that right as well as others.

when an oppressive government has a monopoly on firepower, all of your rights are subject to its whim
 
Re: Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear A

TurtleDude said:
I think its the other way around. If someone tries to stifle freedom of speech and we can kill them we can protect that right as well as others.

when an oppressive government has a monopoly on firepower, all of your rights are subject to its whim
Click to expand...
Or we can just elect people who won't do that by openly talking about and forming parties/policies that remove those who are restricting our freedom.
 
Re: Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear A

Thunder said:
Its seems like some of the folks who soooo strongly support the unabridged & umimpeded right to keep & bear arms, seem to waver in their commitment to Freedom of Speech & Assembly.

...and of course, the other way around.

Which is more important: the Right to Keep & Bear Arms or Freedom of Speech & Assembly?

and what good is the Right to have guns if you won't use them to defend your fellow Americans' freedom of speech?
Click to expand...


It's a dumb question.

It's very much like asking which blade of a pair of scissors is more important.
 
Re: Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear A

Thunder said:
Its seems like some of the folks who soooo strongly support the unabridged & umimpeded right to keep & bear arms, seem to waver in their commitment to Freedom of Speech & Assembly.

...and of course, the other way around.

Which is more important: the Right to Keep & Bear Arms or Freedom of Speech & Assembly?

and what good is the Right to have guns if you won't use them to defend your fellow Americans' freedom of speech?
Click to expand...

What's more important in your car - the gas pedal or the brake or is it the steering wheel?

It depends on what you need right then. When I'm driving down the interstate on a full tank of gas, it seems like the brake is unnecessary. The steering wheel can get me out of just about any problem I face. But, if things go wrong or if I have to get off the interstate, I need the brake. And, when I need it, I really need it. It doesn't matter how fast the gas pedal got me going or how well the steering works, if you need the brake pedal, it better be there and it better work.
 
Re: Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear A

Thunder said:
Its seems like some of the folks who soooo strongly support the unabridged & umimpeded right to keep & bear arms, seem to waver in their commitment to Freedom of Speech & Assembly.

...and of course, the other way around.

Which is more important: the Right to Keep & Bear Arms or Freedom of Speech & Assembly?

and what good is the Right to have guns if you won't use them to defend your fellow Americans' freedom of speech?
Click to expand...

If the people are unarmed what will stop the government from taking away your other rights? Scream I have free speech while armed men arrest you or shoot you? Write a angry letter to a politician while you are in your jail cell for saying something the officials dislike? Free speech and the right to bear arms are equally important.
 
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Re: Which is more important: Freedom of Speech/Assembly or the Right to Keep & Bear A

theplaydrive said:
Or we can just elect people who won't do that by openly talking about and forming parties/policies that remove those who are restricting our freedom.
Click to expand...

If the people are unarmed and the government wishes to take away other rights wouldn't they take away your ability to form another party or right to vote.
 
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