I'm Douglas Waggener

Share the love, every chance you get. Don't add to the negativity. Counter it The idea behind"open source" is that it is a work in progress, and is always "open" to new ideas and suggestions.I think we all could agree we need solutions more than anything. I think that we all would also agree that great solutions come usually as the result of untold amounts of input and compromise. A big part of finding the right solution is understanding the problem. The best I could ever hope for is providing some of the initial spark that is so requisite to any endeavor.

My plan is to present thoughts on topics that I assume are the most important.I don't think it's fair that my ideas take precedent here, so please know that any idea that can be construed as non threatening, is going to be placed ahead of mine. This project cannot hope to suceed without the help of a lot of people

Part the First

The first bit of legislation regards the second amendment. I would hope that anyone who contributes to this topic has taken the time to research the plethora of information on this topic. I highly recommend "The Second Amendment" by Michael Waldman, which I borrowed from the Troy Library.I know there are many other books out there that have much to offer.

here is the the actual second amendment in all its glory:

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

I like the words "well regulated" and find it noteworthy that these words would be in a document that the Republicans and Democrats both support. I find the words at the end "shall not be infringed" to be obsessive. Don't all the amendments require that imperative?

I vaguely can remember, back ten or more years, when something that had to do with a group, I think was called Citizens United, introduced to me, the concept that, corporations had the same rights as individuals. I just couldn't believe that an inanimate object could have first amendment rights, the same as anybody. Turns out, when I asked Bing co-pilot, this concept is not new at all.

I don't want to dwell on corporations right now, but I would like to dwell on the rights of another group of inanimate objects, specifically the guns themselves. What right(s) does the second amendment give to the guns themselves? I would argue that the guns themselves don't have any rights, especially the right to exist.

The first peace of legislation is titled

"Michigan Firearm Safety Act 2025"

One thing that became apparent to me when I read Michael Waldman's book was that the second amendment, written at a time when militias were preferred and standing armies mistrusted,is a classic states rights issue. At the very least every Michigander, as it were, whether pro gun or con, in the name of the tenth amendment should proclaim that in our jurisdiction, our second amendment rights Trump the second amendment rights of all other jurisdictions, be they state or federal.Trumping all others is a political mindset that is being beta tested right now and that is not the intent of this website of even thinking of "holier than thou". Intuitively we are going to pass legislation that strives to make Michigan at least, a place where everybody who lives here , doesn't have to be a victim of gun violence. I'm Not saying Michigan should be a Mecca for anybody who doesn't live here now. I'm saying the people of Michigan should endorse legislation that deters gun violence.

As you can see I am editing as I go, continually making adjustments and improvements. please direct any thoughts or comments to my email waggener.douglas@gmail.com