# North Carolina Suspends the Constitution On Account Of Rain **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 3, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-carolina-suspends-the-constitution-on-account-of-rain/552500 "2010-09-03T16:18:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-carolina-suspends-the-constitution-on-account-of-rain/552500/1 "2010-09-03T16:18:05Z")
Hmm. Looks like it’s gonna rain a bit. Better make sure legal gun-owners can’t leave their property. > **[Examiner is back - Examiner.com](https://examiner.com)** > > Examiner.com is the go-to source for millions of people who want to know what's happening in their city. And we're still growing! Nope, can’t have all those law-abiding registered gun owners running around armed, doncha know. Sure, they behave most of the time, but you get 'em wet, & those bastards are liable to do ANYTHING! Perhaps not strong enough for the Pit, but screw Gov. Perdue, and the democrats who oppose the simple exception for law-abiding citizens. You may remember New Orleans had even worse [problems](http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/08/national/nationalspecial/08cnd-storm.html)following Katrina… ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-carolina-suspends-the-constitution-on-account-of-rain/552500/2 "2010-09-03T16:22:09Z")
Horrible law, stupid idea. Strongly suspect it would not pass constitutional muster. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-carolina-suspends-the-constitution-on-account-of-rain/552500/3 "2010-09-03T16:22:18Z")
Hey, you won the coveted “most misleading thread title of the day” award. Congratulations! ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-carolina-suspends-the-constitution-on-account-of-rain/552500/4 "2010-09-03T16:24:36Z")
What’s misleading about it? NC has apparently decided the Second Amendment doesn’t apply because of a hurricane…which from their perspective, is likely to be mostly a lot of rain and some wind. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-carolina-suspends-the-constitution-on-account-of-rain/552500/5 "2010-09-03T16:41:31Z")
It’s when stuff like this happens that I have to remind people that I only moved here a few months ago and didn’t have a chance to vote for or against these goofballs, and that it’s even worse in SC. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-carolina-suspends-the-constitution-on-account-of-rain/552500/6 "2010-09-03T16:47:11Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > It’s when stuff like this happens that I have to remind people that I only moved here a few months ago and didn’t have a chance to vote for or against these goofballs, and that it’s even worse in SC. Gotta add you to the list for the next Charlotte Dopefest… And yeah, that’s a dumb law. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-carolina-suspends-the-constitution-on-account-of-rain/552500/7 "2010-09-03T16:51:11Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Horrible law, stupid idea. Strongly suspect it would not pass constitutional muster. Why not? It clearly reads: “(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, it is unlawful for any person to transport or possess off **his own premises** any dangerous weapon or substance in any area:” Bolding mine This is consistent with the Supreme Court ruling from _[District of Columbia v. Heller](http://www.leagle.com/unsecure/page.htm?shortname=infdco20100329000t)_ the gist of which is summed up in the findings as: “[a]ssuming that Heller is not disqualified from the exercise of Second Amendment rights, the District must permit him to register his handgun and must issue him a license to carry it **in the home**.” Bolding mine Nobody’s going to be going door-to-door confiscating anybody’s weapons, you just can’t go running around town with them. What is so outrageous about that? ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-carolina-suspends-the-constitution-on-account-of-rain/552500/8 "2010-09-03T17:02:21Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > Nope, can’t have all those law-abiding registered gun owners running around armed, doncha know. Sure, they behave most of the time, but you get 'em wet, & those bastards are liable to do ANYTHING! So in other words, NC gun owners are Gremlins? ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-carolina-suspends-the-constitution-on-account-of-rain/552500/9 "2010-09-03T17:13:13Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > You may remember New Orleans had even worse [problems](http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/08/national/nationalspecial/08cnd-storm.html)following Katrina… It’s funny that you mention NO, because what I first thought of when I read the OP was the armed mobs formed in Algiers Point after Katrina. Not a particularly strong argument for guns in an emergency if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-carolina-suspends-the-constitution-on-account-of-rain/552500/10 "2010-09-03T17:19:16Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Nobody’s going to be going door-to-door confiscating anybody’s weapons, you just can’t go running around town with them. Why would anyone want to leave their home anyway? Someone might break in and steal your unattended guns, and you’d die of heartbreak. Thanks for the link. The histrionics in the user comments gave me a good laugh. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-carolina-suspends-the-constitution-on-account-of-rain/552500/11 "2010-09-04T01:48:44Z")
I don’t have a gun, I’ve never shot a gun, and I voted no. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-carolina-suspends-the-constitution-on-account-of-rain/552500/12 "2010-09-04T03:14:29Z")
If I ever have to evac in an emergency, you can bet I’m going to be armed, law or no law. Let them try me afterward. I’ll walk. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-carolina-suspends-the-constitution-on-account-of-rain/552500/13 "2010-09-04T03:44:56Z")
So what this law means is that people won’t be allowed to go hunting, with guns, in a hurricane? Darnit! Maybe the Executive Order is premature, but it’s not exactly suspending the constitution, unless it’s the meaning of ‘suspending’ that is ‘supporting.’ ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-carolina-suspends-the-constitution-on-account-of-rain/552500/14 "2010-09-04T06:13:31Z")
> [@ducati](#): > > Hmm. Looks like it’s gonna rain a bit. You know, you could cut and paste a paragraph or two. Or even, GASP! write out in your own words a synopsis of what’s happening. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-carolina-suspends-the-constitution-on-account-of-rain/552500/15 "2010-09-04T13:29:16Z")
The people this is supposed to affect (meaning drunken morons who’ll use guns to rob, murder and cause mayhem) are not law abiding citizens! They don’t give a shit whether there’s a law saying they can’t have guns, they’ll carry them anyway. CCW holders have so many hoops to jump through they’re the most law abiding citizens you could find, and in some cases even more trustworthy than the police. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-carolina-suspends-the-constitution-on-account-of-rain/552500/16 "2010-09-04T14:05:39Z")
> [@EvilTOJ](#): > > The people this is supposed to affect (meaning drunken morons who’ll use guns to rob, murder and cause mayhem) are not law abiding citizens! They don’t give a shit whether there’s a law saying they can’t have guns, they’ll carry them anyway. CCW holders have so many hoops to jump through they’re the most law abiding citizens you could find, and in some cases even more trustworthy than the police. It’s statements like this that seem to suggest a certain level of paranoia among the gun-rights crowd. Now, I will let you know right now that I own several guns and am neither a staunch anti-gun advocate nor a placard-waving NRA-type gun-nut. I’m not interested in a debate, but I do have a few honest questions. Sorry if they come off sounding snarky in any way, that’s not my intention. That said, can someone explain to me the implied need to have their gun with them at all times? Do the gun-rights crowd really think that they’re constantly surrounded by drunken morons, robbers, murderers and mayhem-causers or is that just a convenient rallying cry? ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-carolina-suspends-the-constitution-on-account-of-rain/552500/17 "2010-09-04T15:05:39Z")
What a misleading poll. First of all, all the governor did was declare a state of emergency, correct? And the law regarding what happens to gun rights was already on the books? So what you’re really saying is the governor should not have declared a state of emergency? And second, how exactly does “No. I believe I have the right to defend my family, property, etc.” have anything to do with anything given that gun owners are allowed to keep their guns on their property to begin with? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-carolina-suspends-the-constitution-on-account-of-rain/552500/18 "2010-09-04T15:18:39Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > What a misleading poll. First of all, all the governor did was declare a state of emergency, correct? And the law regarding what happens to gun rights was already on the books? So what you’re really saying is the governor should not have declared a state of emergency? No. He’s saying the law is a bad one. > [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > And second, how exactly does “No. I believe I have the right to defend my family, property, etc.” have anything to do with anything given that gun owners are allowed to keep their guns on their property to begin with? I can imagine plenty of emergency scenarios in which I would find myself needing to travel _to_ or _from_ my home, to secure my own well-being or that of family and neighbors, and in which my own security during the trip–during a time when civil authorities have _officially declared_ themselves “unable to maintain public order or afford adequate protection for lives or property”–would be particularly at risk. > [@silenus](#): > > If I ever have to evac in an emergency, you can bet I’m going to be armed, law or no law. Goddamn right. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-carolina-suspends-the-constitution-on-account-of-rain/552500/19 "2010-09-04T15:24:10Z")
> [@spark240](#): > > I can imagine plenty of emergency scenarios in which I would find myself needing to travel _to_ or _from_ my home, to secure my own well-being or that of family and neighbors, and in which my own security during the trip–during a time when civil authorities have _officially declared_ themselves “unable to maintain public order or afford adequate protection for lives or property”–would be particularly at risk. But do you _honestly_ believe there’s a realistic chance you’re going to have to go to war with your neighbors? Aren’t you exceedingly much more likely to be aiding each other in an emergency weather scenario? ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-carolina-suspends-the-constitution-on-account-of-rain/552500/20 "2010-09-04T15:24:13Z")
He said screw the governor and “the Democrats,” neither of whom passed the law as far as I can tell. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/north-carolina-suspends-the-constitution-on-account-of-rain/552500.md?page=2)