Constitutional Amendment to Allow Gun Control [Failed]

[Verily]

Constitutional Amendment to Allow Gun Control

1. Article I, Section 5 shall be amended to include a new clause as follows: "To regulate and ban firearms as necessary throughout the Republic of Atlasia."
2. Amendment I shall be amended to read "The right to keep and detonate low-potency explosives shall not be infringed."

(Sponsor: Friz)


This will be fun.

[afleitch]

My first thoughts are that this should be a regional issue. But of course the right to bear arms is in the national constitution (and passed by 4 of the regions)

I don't consider this to be a pressing constitutional issue.

[Colin]

The current constitutional regulations concerning firearms are appropriate. I see no reason to change it and to allow the national government the right to regulate or ban firearms.

[Sam Spade]

I have some questions to ask Friz, when he shows up...

[CultureKing]

While I think its a good idea to ban assault weapons (not all firearms however) I don't think that this legislation has any chance of passing, or if it does pass the senate then the regions will likely shoot it down. Basically we should represent the people and the people want guns.

[Platypus]

As a regional senator I represent my region when I say that gun control is welcome, and that it is a regional responsibility. Whilst as a private citizen I would vote aye on the referendum, in the senate I am of two minds. We should be doing more to reduce gun crime, but this is a significant step towards centralisation, and so I will withhold my intentions until a later date.

What was the original text, btw?

[Verily]

What was the original text, btw?

Same as the United States' Second Amendment.


Given widespread criticism of the centralization of gun control, and my own personal feeling that control is difficult to implement under a central authority, I propose an amendment to strike section 1 of this legislation and leave the power of gun control to the Regions.

[Хahar 🤔]

I have some questions to ask Friz, when he shows up...

It's the Vice President's bill. Friz couldn't say a thing if you asked him.

[Friz]

The amendment is fairly self-explanatory, gentlemen.

[Verily]

We are now voting on the following amendment. Please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain.

I propose an amendment to strike section 1 of this legislation and leave the power of gun control to the Regions.

Aye

[Hash]

aye

[CultureKing]

Aye

[Colin]

Nay

[Speed of Sound]

This amendment seriously confuses me. It helps to regulate guns, but expands explosive rights? I would urge the senate to consider a more....consistent.....amendment.

[Ebowed]

This amendment seriously confuses me. It helps to regulate guns, but expands explosive rights? I would urge the senate to consider a more....consistent.....amendment.

The constitution already protects the right to own explosives; this amendment doesn't strengthen that right.

Either way, I choose to interpret the clause as referring to fireworks and the like, which I have no problem with.

[Friz]

Nay.

[Platypus]

Abstain

[afleitch]

Aye.

[Sam Spade]

Nay

[CultureKing]

I change my vote to NAY

[Meeker]

Aye

[Bacon King]

aye

[Meeker]

Result on Verily's Amendment
Aye: 5 (Verily; Hashemite; Afleitch, Meekermariner, Bacon King)
Nay: 3 (Friz; Sam Spade; CultureKing)
Abstain: 1 (Hughento)

With five in favor, three opposed and one abstaining, the amendment passes.

[minionofmidas]

Abstain ftr.

[Meeker]

Unless anyone has anything else to say, we will proceed to vote in 24 hours.