The Four Branches Of American Government

Soon enough, every American schoolchild will be able to recite the list:

• Executive: the President, his or her cabinet, etc.
• Legislative: Congress
• Judiciary: the Supreme Court and other courts, and...
• Gun Lobby: the NRA

Got it, kids? The list above is not necessarily in order of the power with which each branch is invested. We all know whom the three constitutionally mentioned branches really fear...

You have a constitutionally protected right to speak. But the government, as a matter of public safety, may legally prevent you from shouting "Fire!" in a crowded room.

You have an implied right to drive an auto. But the government may require you to obtain a license by proving that you actually have the basic skills necessary to take your car on the road without wreaking havoc there.

You have a constitutionally protected right to own a firearm. But... oh, never mind. Apparently, you have an unmitigated NRA-protected right to carry a gun at all times, in all circumstances, no matter how many crimes you have committed in the past using a gun.

Calm down: nobody wants to take your guns away from you, or prevent you from acquiring more guns, unless you have a demonstrable history of using your guns for criminal purposes. A background check is not too much to ask. Your waiting a very short time to purchase a weapon is a very small price to pay compared to the price paid by the victims at Sandy Hook.

Shame on the cowards in the Senate. This should have been an easy call. Shame, especially, on the leadership too cowardly to address the problems of the filibuster.