http://www.rumormillnews.com/cgi-bin/forum.cgi?read=166854
http://onemansthoughts.wordpress.com/2010/01/21/vermonts-answer-to-gun-control/ http://vagunforum.net/national-discussions/vermont-answer-gun-control-t3802-35115.html Vermont's Answer to Gun Control; Vermont State Rep. Fred Maslack has read the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as well as Vermont 's own Constitution very carefully, and his strict interpretation of these documents is popping some eyeballs in New England and elsewhere. Maslack recently proposed a bill to register "non-gun-owners" and require them to pay a $500 fee to the state. Thus Vermont would become the first state to require a permit for the luxury of going about unarmed and assess a fee of $500 for the privilege of not owning a gun. Maslack read the "militia" phrase of the Second Amendment as not only the right of the individual citizen to bear arms, but as a clear mandate to do so. He believes that universal gun ownership was advocated by the Framers of the Constitution as an antidote to a "monopoly of force" by the government as well as criminals. Vermont 's constitution states explicitly that "the people have a right to bear arms for the defense of themselves and the State" and those persons who are "conscientiously scrupulous of bearing arms" shall be required to "pay such equivalent.." Clearly, says Maslack, Vermonters have a constitutional obligation to arm themselves, so that they are capable of responding to "any situation that may arise." Under the bill, adults who choose not to own a firearm would be required to register their name, address, Social Security Number, and driver's license number with the state. "There is a legitimate government interest in knowing who is not prepared to defend the state should they be asked to do so," Maslack says Vermont already boasts a high rate of gun ownership along with the least restrictive laws of any state .. it's currently the only state that allows a citizen to carry a concealed firearm without a permit. This combination of plenty of guns and few laws regulating them has resulted in a crime rate that is the third lowest in the nation... " America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards." This makes sense! There is no reason why gun owners should have to pay taxes to support police protection for people not wanting to own guns. Let them contribute their fair share and pay their own way. " I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations. " James Madison Vermont has the least restrictive gun-control law. It recognizes the right of any Vermonter who has not otherwise been prohibited from owning a firearm to carry concealed weapons without a permit or license. Yet Vermont has one of the lowest crime rates in America , ranking 49 out of 50 in all crimes and 47th in murders. kj1 1991- Kalifornia imposes First "Jock Tax" - Following a basketball game in which the Chicago Bulls beat the Los Angeles Lakers, the state of California slapped the visiting team with a nonresident income tax. The next time the Los Angeles Lakers played Chicago on the Bulls' home turf, the favor was returned. Soon, the tax became known as the "jock tax." Now, 20 out of the 24 states that house professional sports teams impose the tax, making it so athletes sometimes have to pay taxes in multiple locations for one paycheck. -- http://www.thebigmoney.com:80/articles/news/2009/04/14/236-years-hating-taxes?wpisrc=000002<http://www.thebigmoney.com/articles/news/2009/04/14/236-years-hating-taxes?wpisrc=000002> -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more.
