Sotomayor on the right for self defense

[The Rev]

Sotomayor Would Not Concede a Right to Self-Defense
Monday, July 20, 2009
By Adam Brickley



Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor delivers her opening statement on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, July 13, 2009, during her confirmation hearing befor the Senate Judiciary Committee. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
Washington (CNSNews.com) – When Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) asked Wednesday whether citizens have a right to self-defense, Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor told the Senate Judiciary Committee, “I don’t know.”

Coburn had asked, “As a citizen of this country, do you believe innately in my ability to have self-defense of myself – personal self-defense? Do I have a right to personal self-defense?”

In reply, Sotomayor said that, “I’m trying to think if I remember a case where the Supreme Court has addressed that particular question. Is there a constitutional right to self-defense? And I can’t think of one. I could be wrong, but I can’t think of one.” She then went on to explain that self-defense rights are usually defined by state law.”

Unsatisfied, Coburn continued, “But do you have an opinion, of whether or not in this country I personally, as an individual citizen, have a right to self-defense?”

Sotomayor responded, “I – as I said, I don’t know.”

[Champlain Islander]

She is simply not saying anything that could blow up her chances of confirmation. This woman will show her true colors after she is in.

This pick will be bad news for second ammendment rights.
Unsatisfied, Coburn continued, “But do you have an opinion, of whether or not in this country I personally, as an individual citizen, have a right to self-defense?”

Sotomayor responded, “I – as I said, I don’t know.”

That is a blatant lie.

[Beau Ouiville]

Originally Posted by Champlain Islander

That is a blatant lie.

The second amendment is one thing but where in the constitution does it mention self-defense? What cases have there been on self-defense which reached SCOTUS?

Maybe calling a comment a lie is inaccurate.

[The Rev]

The second amendment does not mention self-defense. This is no more than a play on words. Why then would a person have the right to arm themselves? For show and tell? Another Liberal spin to fit their own agenda.

[Champlain Islander]

She was asked if she had an opinion regarding the average person to be able to defend themselves. She is a highly intelligent woman who is in a position to think issues out beyond the obvious. That is why she has been picked. To say she doesn't have an opinion about a simple question is just dodging the subject. When she said she didn't have an opinion I feel she was lying. She has an opinion but didn’t want to tell what it was. She should have said that instead of saying she didn’t have an opinion. I don’t know what you call it in your neck of the woods Beau. A little white lie…a fib….come on. If you can’t have her tell the truth now what will it be like in the future when it really counts.

[ipscshooter]

Originally Posted by Beau Ouiville

The second amendment is one thing but where in the constitution does it mention self-defense? What cases have there been on self-defense which reached SCOTUS?

Maybe calling a comment a lie is inaccurate.

Heller, perhaps?

Thus, by constitutionalizing the pre-existing common-law right to possess firearms, the Second Amendment served in part to protect the individual's lawful right to possess a firearm for self-defense.

She "doesn't know" whether she believes individuals have a right of self defense? Come on. Perhaps that "first in her class at Princeton" was only the result of affirmative action...

This chick is a freakin idiot. If you don't know if a person should have the right for self defense, then your a freakin idiot.

We can expect more of this to come from this piece of crap.

[Beau Ouiville]

Originally Posted by ipscshooter

Heller, perhaps?

Come on! As a lawyer, you know better. Heller was on the 'RKBA'; not on the use of deadly force to protect oneself. Heller had not shot anyone.

What Sotomayor said is: “I’m trying to think if I remember a case where the Supreme Court has addressed that particular question. Is there a constitutional right to self-defense? And I can’t think of one. I could be wrong, but I can’t think of one.”

I haven't heard of anyone come up with a SCOTUS self-defense case yet. Myself, I can't think of one.

[C. Davis]

The self proclaimed "wise Latina" either don't know the concept of self defense, or she would not allow herself to come to grips with the justifiable human right to defend ones self if need be. Here is her lame example of self defense.

Sotomayor provided what turned out to be an unusual and humorous example as she attempted to answer Coburn's question on self defense by citing the legal issue of imminent threat.

"If the threat was in this room -- 'I'm going to come get you' -- ... if I go home, get a gun, come back and shoot you, that may not be legal under New York law," she said, interrupting her example to stress that she was not making such a suggestion.

http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/poli...n_abortion.htm


Coburn was not sharp enough to tell her her example was a poor one. A better example would be if she left a public place, and on her way to her car in the parking lot, was abducted by a stranger and stuffed into the trunk of her car and driven to a secluded spot in the woods. The proper question would be, do you feel you have a right to defend yourself in such a case when the stranger opened the trunk in the woods, after which you had time to get your handgun out of your purse?

C. Davis

[Beau Ouiville]

Originally Posted by C. Davis

Coburn was not sharp enough to tell her her example was a poor one.

One of the facets of the privilege to use deadly force in self-defense is the immediacy of the threat. The judge was repeating a paradigm used in law school classes. Ask a lawyer.