The reason red flag laws are so dangerous is because corrupt bureaucrats will get to decide which mental states are “normal”
by: Vicki Batts
NaturalNews.com
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Red flag laws are getting all kinds of praise in the media right now, heralded as the “middle ground.” Under these laws, concerned family members and police officers may petition a court to have an individual’s firearms taken away after they’ve been determined “dangerous.” While there may be some circumstances where removing potential weapons from the home is actually done for the right reasons, there are far too many ways for this system to be abused.
There are substantial concerns that these laws violate multiple constitutional rights, and that such power can (and will) be corrupted. It will not take long before any person who dares to speak out will be labeled a “danger” and have their Second Amendment rights stripped away.
Are red flag laws a smoking gun?
Red flag laws are getting praise from both sides of the aisle. Supporters say these laws are a great compromise between gun rights and gun control — but there are many concerns about the potential for these laws to be abused. Even as they are, red flag laws strip targeted individuals of their Second, Fourth, Fifth and Fourteenth Amendment rights.
The “confiscate first, ask later” approach assumes gun owners are guilty, rather than innocent — and it strips them of their right to due process. The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments declare that state and federal government cannot deprive a person of “life, liberty or property without due process of the law.”
Under red flag laws, local municipalities are violating these rights by seizing citizens’ weapons based on the accusations of others and denying them a fair trial. The only way to restore your Second Amendment rights after being victimized by red flag laws is to ask for a court hearing.
These laws aren’t just violating people’s rights: They are establishing a precedent of being able to seize an individual’s weapons without due process. Eventually, what gets considered “dangerous” will expand to include anyone who disagrees with the party line or doesn’t kowtow to Big Government.
Abuse of power
This is where another “red flag” pops up. Writing for American Greatness, Christopher Roach notes that even in the absence of intentional abuse, bias can still be a powerful influence. For example, Roach posits that many people who work in mental health would view the very desire to own a gun as a “red flag.” Left-leaning attitudes are prominent in the legal profession and court systems, as well — which again, automatically tips the deck in favor of the house. If you think all gun owners are nuts to begin with, how can you accurately judge whether or not someone is fit to own a weapon?
It is unconstitutional to allow a team of bureaucrats to undermine an individual’s rights like this, even if they actually committed a crime –never mind an innocent person who’s simply been accused of being “dangerous” by a court system they’re not even allowed to participate in.
In an opinion piece for USA Today, Michael Hammond questions further: “If the Constitution can be suspended in a secret hearing, where does this lead?”
The Rest…HERE
