Exercising the Right
Memorable Quotes
The world of American politics lost an iconic figure on March 30 when G. Gordon Liddy, the chief operative for Richard Nixon’s Watergate break-in, passed away at 90 years old. The New York Times ran an obituary for him that did a good job capturing the eccentricity that made him such a memorable figure, but it was a few of his quotes on the Second Amendment that readers of this column would appreciate. The Times reported that when Liddy was asked about restrictions on firearms, he replied, “I believe in gun control. Hold the gun steadily and hit what you aim at.” Liddy also admitted to interviewers that he could no longer own a gun due to his conviction for conspiracy, burglary, and illegal wiretapping, but also explained, “Mrs. Liddy owns 27 [guns], some of which she keeps on my side of the bed.” Regardless of your thoughts on Liddy and his role in American history, something has to be said about his ability to leave a lasting impression.
Constitutional Carry
Fox News reported on February 12 that Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed a bill into law that allows what is popularly referred to as “constitutional carry.” The law, which goes into effect in May, makes Utah the 18th state to allow residents to carry concealed without a permit. The National Rifle Association praised the law in a press release. Jason Ouimet, the executive director of the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action, wrote, “There is no reason a law-abiding person should have to ask for permission to carry a firearm for self-defense…. The passage of this bill demonstrates Utah’s commitment to protecting the Second Amendment rights of its citizens.”
Utah wasn’t alone. The Tennessean reported on April 1 that a similar constitutional-carry type bill was passed by both chambers of the Tennessee state legislature and just about to be signed into law by Governor Bill Lee. Governor Lee was a proponent of the measure, which he described as part of his public-safety agenda. The Tennessean reported on March 22 that Lee explained his support for the law by saying, “It is very simple what the founders had in mind, and it was to allow the citizenry to be protected against a tyrannical government…. What’s most important here is we allow the rights of law-abiding citizens to be protected.”
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