# I will pay $10,000... **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 28, 1999, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-pay-10-000/1377 "1999-05-28T04:52:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 1999, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-pay-10-000/1377/41 "1999-06-13T13:32:00Z")
> [@](#): > > pldennison, it is not the second amendment both he and I are having trouble with. I think you can let the boy speak for himself. Whatever _you_ may think, _he_ says that “the NRA says it is a guaranteed personal right and I say that is a load of crap.” He obviously feels there is no such right despite the text, and I want to know what other rights he feels are a load of crap, probably because they make him uncomfortable. FTR, I do not own a gun, have no plans to buy one, and am not a member of the NRA. I am, however, extremely touchy on the subject of civil liberties. ExTank, _has_ the NRA ever filed an amicus curae brief related to any gun law, as far as you know? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 1999, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-pay-10-000/1377/42 "1999-06-13T16:08:00Z")
JDV: I don’t know if you live in the city or not, but my challege to you, and all people opposed to guns, put a large sign in your front yard saying “There are no guns in this household, not will there ever be!” Sleep well! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 1999, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-pay-10-000/1377/43 "1999-06-13T16:11:00Z")
…please excuse the typo (not to nor) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 1999, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-pay-10-000/1377/44 "1999-06-14T01:53:00Z")
Honestly, until you brought it up, I’d never heard of Amicus Curiae; it took some digging for me to find out what the hell it was. Now that I know, I can honestly say: I don’t know if the NRA or any other pro-gun organization have ever filed an Amicus Curiae. However, your question piqued my interest, and I have submitted the question to the NRA-ILA and The Second Amendment Foundation. When I have an answer, I’ll post it here. If they have filed even _one_, that would pretty well refute JDV’s claim that the NRA and like don’t have the courage to put their money where their mouth is. If they haven’t, you can be damned sure I’m going to inquire _why_; if the answer is not to my satisfaction, the NRA and I may soon be parting ways. \_ **ExTank\** _ _“If they can’t walk it like they talk it, I wan’t no part of 'em.”_ ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 1999, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-pay-10-000/1377/45 "1999-06-14T05:26:00Z")
Ex-Tank, you be one HONEST gun-nut(hee-hee!) I’m sorry I wasn’t learned enough to use that term in MY question. If you find out that the NRA did file, count me in for an apology. I’m not going to ask you to be honest in your finding, because I’ve ALWAYS found you to be intellectually honest, despite our philosophical differences. * * * “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.” Hunter Thompson ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 1999, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-pay-10-000/1377/46 "1999-06-16T23:31:00Z")
Okay, I heard back from the NRA-ILA today, and here are their’s and the SAF’s responses: > [@](#): > > Subj:Re: Contact from NRAhq web site: Membership > Date:6/16/99 9:22:03 AM Mountain Daylight Time > [From:ila-contact@nrahq.org](mailto:From:ila-contact@nrahq.org) > [To:ExTank@aol.com](mailto:To:ExTank@aol.com) > > An amicus curiae brief is something which a party that is not directly involved with a particular court case can file in support of one of the parties that is involved with the case. NRA has filed a number of them in the past, and will undoubtedly do so in the future. and: > [@](#): > > Subj:RE: Amicus Curiae > Date:6/14/99 1:28:23 PM Mountain Daylight Time > From :DaveL@liberty.seanet.com (Dave LaCourse) > [To:ExTank@aol.com](mailto:To:ExTank@aol.com) > > The Second Amendment Foundation has been around since 1974 and has both > filed many Amicus briefs as well as sponsored numerous lawsuits including > against the Clinton gun ban/ CA assault weapon ban, etc. > > We are currently working on a brief for the Emerson case, since this could > be the Big One! I am unhappy with the responses I received (naturally; they were exactly what I wanted to hear) and have sent this reply back to them: > [@](#): > > Thanks to both organizations for your timely responses; the information is appreciated, as is the time you have taken to answer my question. > One other thing: other than the Emerson case, can you cite any other cases that your espective organizations have filed Amicus Curiae on? If anyone wants to read the actual e-mail responses (the above are C&P), I will forward them to you at your request. \_ **ExTank\** _ ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 1999, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-pay-10-000/1377/47 "1999-06-17T00:03:00Z")
Ex-Tank, did you ask if they filed an Amicus Curiae on 2nd Amendment grounds specifically? I am curious as to what arguments they used in their filings. By the way, I DO appreciate the research you’ve done so far. * * * “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.” Hunter Thompson ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 1999, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-pay-10-000/1377/48 "1999-06-17T02:16:00Z")
Thank you VERY much for the research! Did they happen to mention if the Briefs were filed on 2nd Amendment grounds or not? Just curious. * * * “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.” Hunter Thompson ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 1999, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-pay-10-000/1377/49 "1999-06-19T03:11:00Z")
ExTank, you keep evading the issue. Are you going to file a challenge or not? Cite anything you want, I will pay all legal fees plus $10,000 if you are successful in challenging _ANY_ US gun control law on Second Amendment grounds. Why do you keep blathering? DO IT! I have said this over and over again and all you offer is bullshit. Do it or shut up. You are full of crap. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 1999, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-pay-10-000/1377/50 "1999-06-21T07:34:00Z")
{{You keep blathering and claiming it’s an ‘unfair’ challenge. There is nothing unfair about it. Go see a lawyer. Advise them that I will pay all expenses plus $10,000 to anyone who provides a successful challenge to _any_ gun control law on Second Amendment grounds.}} jdv “As your attorney, I advise you not to rely on this person’s representations.” ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 1999, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-pay-10-000/1377/51 "1999-06-21T07:38:00Z")
[[ExTank, you keep evading the issue. Are you going to file a challenge or not? Cite anything you want, I will pay all legal fees plus $10,000 if you are successful in challenging _ANY_ US gun control law on Second Amendment grounds.]]jdv Tell you what – pony up the money first and then maybe you’ll get some takers. Meanwhile, I’m still interested in how you think such a challenge could be raised short of getting oneself arrested. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 1999, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-pay-10-000/1377/52 "1999-06-21T19:14:00Z")
Anyone who actually wants an informed, brief, relatively unbiased report of how the second amendment has been interpreted through history, look at [http://caselaw.findlaw.com/data/Constitution/amendment02/](http://caselaw.findlaw.com/data/Constitution/amendment02/). The last time the Supreme Court ruled on it, in 1939, it ruled that the right to bear arms only applied in the context of preserving a militia. I disagree with this ruling, but I accept it as the current law of the land. I personally can’t even parse the second amendment. What the heck is “being” in the sentance anyway? A gerund? The verb in a subordinate clause? I don’t get it. Hopefully, the Emerson case will bring it up again, (the right, not the grammar) and we’ll get a more realistic ruling. Cheers, Quadell [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-will-pay-10-000/1377.md?page=2)