The Unfortunate Third Amendment

Amendment III
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Yesterday, I shared a video by Collon Noir, in which he tongue-in-cheek suggested that the
government limit the ability of the press to report on mass shootings.  If you watched the whole video, you learned that he really wasn't suggesting that the government abridge the First Amendment  He was using hyperbole to demonstrate that there are no common-sense laws we could pass that would NOT violate the Constitution.

Just as in the case of the 2nd Amendment there are no "common-sense" laws that would not not infringe on the rights of The People.

Then we come to the Third Amendment.  In times of peace, troops cannot be quartered in priate homes without the consent o the Owner.    No one argues about that.  It's pretty plain.  We consider it one of the bedrock principles of our republic.   Yet, there it sits, forlorn and un-debated.

I agree that the government should nor restrict the ability of the press to report on whatever they choose to report on.

I also agree that soldiers should not be quartered in private homes.

I also agree that the right of The People to keep and bear arms should not be infringed.

I believe that over-reporting mass shootings drives the attention culture and inspires copycat incidents.  But, that's for the press to consider.  Our rabid press should be responsible in the manner in which they report the news.  But, it's not the governments place to limit them.

Later today, I'll be teaching and preaching gun safety.  I have heard reports that we'll have some new shooters today.  Some of them may never have handled a firearm, and it's my responsibility to get it right.  I've also been told that the press may attend, to do a feature on the Cross Branded Peacemakers.  Today is going to be a lot of fun.