One would have thought that Heller’s confirmation of an individual right to own and possess would decrease paranoia, but the real effect seems to be the exact opposite. I had hoped that, post-Heller and once the incorporation question is settled, the extremists would realize the right to own and possess is secure and that we could move on some common sense regulation. For example, I’m a concealed carrier and I think it just makes sense that, if you are going to carry a concealed weapon, you should have demonstrated an ability to hit what you shoot at. Now that the General Assembly has approved online safety certification for concealed weapon permits (thanks Senator Cuccinelli), I’m as worried about an incompetent concealed carrier who’s never fired a weapon at a target accidentally hitting a bystander as I am about people being victimized because they are unarmed.

Similarly, once the Supreme Court establishes that handguns can’t be taken away, it would be nice if we could establish a handgun registry so we can track them like we do cars. The extremists have opposed registration on the ground that the Government knowing you have them is the first step in the Government taking them away.

Unfortunately, I think we can see the extremists are never going to be happy.

Vivian, you have a Jefferson quote right there in your “Welcome” block. Here’s another you might want to consider:

“Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have. The course of history shows us that as a government grows, liberty decreases.”