Our right to bear arms
The recent statement by assistant attorney general James Zarones that the citizens of the CNMI have never “considered handguns to be the quintessential self-defense weapon” is one of the lamest excuses uttered in defense of the CNMI laws that ban handguns as well as most rifles and shotguns. The fact is that because of Public Law 6-38, only .22 caliber rifles and .410-gauge shotgun are legal for ownership, the one and only reason there are no handguns registered by private citizens. Let us all cut the crap and base all arguments on facts, not suppositions and pure fiction.
Many argue their points on safety, public welfare, etc. They are but semantics, valid in argument but weightless and moot versus the superiority of the U.S. Constitution and given the number of home invasions, murders, and people missing in the CNMI, these arguments are euphoric at best. However, there is hope that as a result of the pending lawsuits, PL 6-38 and all subsequent laws enacted to address and suppress our guns rights will be declared null and void. If not, the 19th Legislature has to repeal PL-6-38 and all other laws that directly infringe on our right to bear arms. These laws violate the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and make a mockery of justice and our Covenant with the United States.
The U.S. Supreme Court, the judicial arm of the federal government, has ruled in favor of handgun ownership by citizens and handguns being the weapon of choice for self-defense. Since these decisions carry the rule of a federal law that applies to the CNMI, these decisions upon issuance should have carried justice and nullified our well-intentioned but inferior public laws.
The bottom line is that all U.S. citizens and nationals domiciled in the CNMI have the right to own handguns and everything else listed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as legal for private ownership. Our Covenant gave us a right that since 1999 our government has infringed and abused. It is high time we stop wearing our ignorance like shields and follow the law—federal law.
Noel S. Reyes
Dandan, Saipan
When would policymakers here learn the supremacy of laws in descending order? Perhaps they also subscribe to Obama’s chime that when someone invades your house, shoots and kill a family member we should try to figure out the “root” cause of the murderous act. Dumb!
Screw the supremacy of law of the Americanos! There is only one law here and that’s ours.
Buenas,
Your sentiment sounds familiar and you remind of my besinu. Chelu, don’t you think we need to respect each other? Expressing our views is one thing, but degrading others is an other. You are replica of my attitude in my younger days, take a deep breath and relax chelu. Our islands are small for us to be hating each other.
“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” – Buddha
Um, I’m pretty sure that you ARE an Americano.
Murders in the CNMI? Wait until handguns are legal and easily accessible. You ain’t seen nothing yet. The quality of life will certainly degrade for everyone.
Buenas Mr. Reyes,
Maybe you should channel your effort to get the National Rifle Association involved with our predicament in the CNMI, because they have the know how and connection.
https://membership.nrahq.org/3270/default.aspx?src=camo&ek=Y4JE504B&gclid=CJ_NxaauycQCFcdgfgodfnIAXA
They aren’t “in abundance”. If they were, many more criminals would have them, and handguns would be involved in many more crimes.
When you can procure a handgun like you can procure an Iphone… crime here will take on a whole new level.
There are less lethal avenues for personal defence, which include tasers and mace.
Good thing legally transferring a handgun is a much more involved process than buying an iphone.
And what about Tasers and mace? What is their rate of failure? When a man can cover 21′ in under 2 seconds, and you have one shot with your Taser, how many ways can that go wrong? What happens if the bad guy has a buddy and you have one Taser shot? How long does it take for OC or Mace to incapacitate a sober man? If they’re intoxicated or cranked up?
Less lethal devices are far from being a magic wand.
We’ve been robbed any number of times over the last four decades. And you no what… no one died, no one was injured, and in all cases – either the robber(s) fled or we got our stuff back. No one pulled a gun. Thankfully.
In my earlier days, I was also in my fair share of brawls (that I didn’t start of course). I didn’t like being involved in that, but you know what, despite the scars, I’m glad they were fist fights and not gun fights.
I’m glad that the angry guy we’ve all seen coming into a club or bar looking for his wife or girlfriend, was coming in unarmed.
I’m glad that the dispute between high school students was limited to being physical and not one where weapons were drawn.
I’m glad that the road rage incident ended with some foul language being yelled out, and not a shot fired from a vehicle.
I’m glad that the hospital’s emergency unit can patch up the kid who fell and hit her chin on an end table, and isn’t seeing the kid who accidentally shot themselves in the head with Dad’s pistol.
My family and I had to live through the trauma. You don’t! Therein lies the difference. What you say is sheer replica of Obama’s pontification that we find out the root cause of the problem after a member of the family is murdered?
Buenas Ioanes,
When I left the CNMI decades ago, I thought I was getting away from the street violence in Saipan. On one occasion, I was in Saipan delivering goods to stores for Mr. Tenerio and I encounter someone with a pistol in San Antonio. In San Antonio, the so call boys from the North were at war with the boys from the South. They would at times had gun fights and if I am not mistaken an elderly lady was gun down near the church. So my question, what had happen to those illegal hand guns used during that time.
People may think that the CNMI is a safe place to live, but there is a dark side to it.
Yes, that’s how that works.
Thanks….
Then , the killed will come alive?
You came from PI, right? Have you been robbed at home there?
But then you’re scrambling to evade reality, true?
Buenas Chamole,
Wait a minute now, so you and Mr. Hunter are calling us fools, because we disagree with your views. I had been told so many times to go back or swim back to where I came from. The last thing I would do is leave the land that my roots came from. We may not have the same views, but let us respect each other and that is not to much to ask.
I agree with your statement, much of what you state is part of licensing elsewhere but I especially like the parts referring to drug testing.
I do not understand the problems that these elected seem to have (and their attorney(s) about writing any laws for handguns especially when almost all places that require a hand gun be registered, have similar laws to what you have stated including the Feds.requirements
Years ago in Hawaii it was extremely difficult to get permit to carry but the rest of the licensing was with background checks etc. Eve Guam has background checks.
But as with everything here it is impossible to have any correct enforcement of anything due to the uneducated political appointed incompetence and hiring based on name and political affiliations.
Everything is selective enforcement and in this area will be especially scary.
Guam is a horrible place that should be nuked off the face of the earth as it is beyond redemption.
do not use guam as an example.
Guam has better police and administration than CNMI, yet its still a crime ridden hellhole
Buenas,
You are right Guam is a hellhole. From Israel fully automatic sub-machine gun to god knows what other machine guns existed in Guam. And majority of them are concentrated in Toto.
My left arm is called Maestro Bartolomeo Beretta and my right arm is called Samuel Colt. They are my defenders of the faith and my fate.
Buenas Mao Dingdong,
I really don’t know you as a person, but I rather put up with your so call BS with Uncle Sam than be in the same predicament as the third world countries I had traveled to. We are very fortunate that we are part of the United States of America.
Chelu, you may want to tone down as a nationalist, because it would be in your best interest. You don’t need to be hard on a certain group of people and that is stereotyping. Forget about gun control, let us respect each other
Buenas Chamole,
I respect your opinion, but to say for me to relocate to another place for my views is like reliving my predicament in the past. I was one angry individual during my younger years and I am glad that it did not come to a point to be incarcerated like the rest of my friends. “You have it good in the CNMI without handguns.” that is a matter of your opinion. You want me to leave your island for my views, since when did you or Mr. Hunter own this island chain? Oh, I forgot, you and Mr. Hunter have the last say so on this island chain. Maybe, because you are the elitist of the CNMI and we are just piece of crab on your eyes. I will respect you, if you respect me, but other wise it would go both way. We may need to respect each other and respect each others opinion. No need to start degrading others for their opinions.
So many think that Handguns will destroy our society here, what a laugh. People have been killing people for thousands of years without handguns. It does not matter if you have a handgun or not if someone is determined to kill another person. Look anywhere inside or outside your house. Everything is a lethal weapon if used correctly and can kill.
Handguns as well as other gun restrictions being lifted is only my way of equaling the playing field for the defense of myself, my family, and my home.
over 60% of all gun deaths in the usa are suicide. If the ban on handguns is lifted, at least idiots like you who think having a bunch of handguns on the island will make them safer will be able to do us all a favor by killing themselves easier.
Buenas Dafug,
Wake Up CNMI has a point and having such views does not constitute that he is an idiot. You sounds like my nephew below. Chelu, let us be nice and no need to degrade others opinion. Don’t get us wrong, we do respect your opinion on such subject matter.
Here is a reference of your claim above: http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/05/24/suicides-account-for-most-gun-deaths/
You’re right. Thanks for backing me up.
A brand new Harvard study has debunked the myth that guns make one safer from crime. Not that we needed another study. But it is clear that they don’t.
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/04/gun-research-harvard-nra
Buenas Mr. Hunter,
You have a point with your statement above.
Again, a report of a survey, conducted by rabid prohibitionists, wherein they don’t identify the people they surveyed? Hardly a “study”, and certainly not worthy of serious consideration. Ask 300 people who have defended their lives with firearms and I’m pretty sure that the results would be different.
>implying DPS can police anything
lol you’re dumb
those guys couldn’t police themselves out of a wet paper bag
Be nice sir or mam to our cousin James.
get your gun so you can commit suicide
the notion that crimes will be prevented by more people having guns and shooting people is absurd
you are correct sir
Okay.
obviously
posting shill propaganda website
So prove the “shill propaganda website” wrong. Logically dispute the facts presented.
if you had shot the robber would it be more peaceful?
would you have a better quality of life?
I think not
Why question then answer your own query?
I expressed my own opinion (I think). You have to answer that question for yourself (what you think).
A tiny girl with a handful of hollow – points do do a bit of evening out against a couple of larger men trying to commit a crime against her.
I’m sure it would alter the thinking of some punk sneaking into someone elses house knowing there may be a couple slugs fired in their direction upon entry of the place.
Really, it stinks feeling like a sitting duck.
I wish it would never come down to this and people could just respect each other, but until then,
They have the right to bear arms. They do not have the right to choose the guns they want. The CNMI is simply placing a limitation on the types of arms being used for certain purpose.
Our weapons change as our technology changes. If they had laser guns with stun/kill settings, that is what I would have. For now, handguns firing projectiles using hot expanding gases (gunpowder), that is what I will have. Say what you will, but I will own a legal handgun(s) before the end of the year.
Good luck then and I hope you will keep yourself VERY safe with whatever weapon you are LEGALLY allowed to carry on you, but I will pray that you will not kill anyone by any means.
To own a weapon does NOT entitle you to carry it. In order to carry a concealed weapon you must have an additional license with justification why you need to carry it. It is not automatic. No one wants to carry handguns all over the islands. Almost all want to simply legally own them and be able to defend ourselves in our homes. Why is this so hard to understand?
You mean to tell me that you would be less effective protecting your family with a rifle and shotgun? Why is that?
You may also read up and find out why we are not allowed to vote for the President and why full consitutional protections are not fully applicable to the US Territories. That may change your mind about this provision’s full applicability to the CNMI and any US Territories, if we so choose not to follow it. I believe it says something to the effect that we are of “alien race” and we may not be able to fully understand your consitution and this 150 years old interpretation is still being used by the federal government today as justification not to fully incorporate us into the United States and have the same rights as every state! By that very same interpretation, we can plead that we will remain foolish and not accept the applicability of such interpretation. Your laws are selectively applied, and in this we, or majority of us, do not want it!
That is pretty much all covered in the Covenant. Don’t like it? Change it.
And, so we shall!
Much of what is in contention here is not only the handgun issue but also the right to defend one self. That is not in the NMI laws from what I understand. The right to use deadly force in protection of life. The right to self defense.
In the issuance of any now “legal” fire arms permit, from what has been stated, “a permit will not be issued for any weapon based on the grounds for self defense” in the NMI.
A weapon permit will be issued for hunting and target practice.
For hunting using a .223? There is no animal in the NMI that warrants a .223 cal. to kill it in the guise of hunting. The .223 cal. (5.62) AR 15 is a civilian version of the M16 assault rifle and designed to kill people.
BTW Miss Juanita, respectfully, a correction, the US Constitution is roughly 240 years old not 150 yrs, But your take on the Constitution i is noted.
I am interested on how the court will rule on this NMI issue, regardless of what each and everyone’s own personal feelings are.
There is so much going on with the US Supreme courts now due to the States and the US President.
So far all of the suits against handguns and the obstructions that many states that have been attempting to throw obstructions in the ownership process have been ruled unconstitutional.
Even to many regs such as background checks. Much I do not agree with the SC decisions, BUTTTT..
Some States have also signed into law “No permit required” such as Kansas.
Just go to a counter, pick and pay for a hand gun, loads it up, strap it on your hip and go on your way.
The interpretation I referred to is over a 100 years old and one made by a recist supreme court judge. It is the reason why all US territories are not incorporated to have equal rights as the states. We are of alien race, and may not be able to understand Anglo Saxon concepts. Obama used the same interpretation in justifying American Samoan status – we are of different culture having different values and so forth. I know very well how old the consitution is. It still does not mean that we should accept this with that backdrop. So go figure!
I guess you do not remember WW II and what happened in the Pacific including the CNMI. Look around now, I cant even count how many wars are going on right now and how many tens of thousands souls are taken every day. If you think we are absoutely safe here, think again. Turn on the TV.
You are looking at it as a tragic incident for two people. I was actually hoping that readers would take it as a national tragedy considering the cost of surviving. What is even more tragic is your response.
Well, it does sound like you are ready to have a war inside your house. Furthermore, you even advocate allowing Chinese and foreigners to own and use handguns and young people for protection. Us regular people, perp or victim, a long gun or a shot from it is enough warning that lethal weapon is involved and may defuse what would otherwise may be fatal outcome. Furthermore, the constitution grants you the right to protect yourself, as allowed by law, as much as it grants me the right to tranquility without further statutary requirement or clarification.
Whatever. You have your opinion and I have mine. I have my rights and you will not take them away. I hope that you or any of your family come to no harm without protection in your home. Enough of this discussion as both our minds are made up.
I hope too that you and your family are well protected by your own gun in your own house from anything or anyone. And, I do so pray that none will get killed or disabled for any reason!
I suggest A.G. Zarones do a research on this case District of Columbia vs. Heller (2008) and all the lawmakers, so that when they’re ready to amend the Weapons Control Act they have something to go by. As it stands, the WCA might get another hit in relation to having CNMI firearms owners to disassemble and or lock their firearms with a trigger lock that’s provided to DPS by BATF.
Unfortunately, Supreme Court at that time chaired 7 appointed by republican president out of 9. As one dissenting Judge (Justice Stevens) aptly stated: “The Court would have us believe that over 200 years ago, the Framers made a choice to limit the tools available to elected officials wishing to regulate civilian uses of weapons…. I could not possibly conclude that the Framers made such a choice.”
Also; “The Breyer dissent also objected to the “common use” distinction used by the majority to distinguish handguns from machineguns: “But what sense does this approach make? According to the majority’s reasoning, if Congress and the States lift restrictions on the possession and use of machineguns, and people buy machineguns to protect their homes, the Court will have to reverse course and find that the Second Amendment does, in fact, protect the individual self-defense-related right to possess a machine-gun…There is no basis for believing that the Framers intended such circular reasoning.”[52] (wikipedia.org/wiki/District_of_Columbia_v._Heller#Lower_court_background)