"Don't Ask, Don't Tell"? Not quite.
Most of you are probably aware that Colorado and Washington have recently passed state law allowing the recreational use of marijuana. There's still a lot of uncertainty about how to implement this new freedom and its implications. And there are potentially lots of implications. One is taxation. We know that governments are eager to tax it and create a new revenue stream. Today I learned of a new one.
Under these states' laws, recreational use of marijuana is legal. Under federal law it is not. From this article and other sources it appears the federal authorities are not interested in tracking down minor drug use or possession - one ounce or less of cannabis. One might imagine that a lot, perhaps a majority, of pot smokers support the left's agenda. President Obama's administration seems content to allow pot smokers to go on about their business without harassment. Unless, of course, you cross them. Be a left-voting pot smoker and you're okay. Be a left-voting pot smoker who wants to exercise your 2nd Amendment rights and you're not.
According to this article, possession or use of marijuana can result in losing your 2nd Amendment rights even where it's legal by state law. That includes medicinal use in states other than Colorado and Washington. Doesn't this seem a little like a new version of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"? If you don't have any drug convictions and you live in one of these states, you should be able to purchase or possess a firearm or ammunition, right? Not really. Because on the federal form for purchasing a firearm, you ARE asked about drug use and under federal law, marijuana remains illegal. So, whether used for medicinal or recreational use, that first toke or brownie could represent a removal of your constitutional right to keep and bear arms.
Still thinking, no conviction - how would they ever know? We have an answer to that too. As the debate continues, and it is, we've already seen the slippery slope of privacy being violated when there's a question of gun ownership. New York state, under it's new gun control "SAFE" law, has already confiscated firearms from someone with no lawful reason to do so. The citizen's violation? He shares a name with someone who shouldn't possess firearms. Mistaken identity. And one having specifically to do with medical history. So, get a prescription from your doctor for medicinal use of marijuana and you could find yourself reported to your state by your doctor, nurse or health care administrator and lose your 2nd Amendment rights. Even the Veterans Administration (VA) is doing that already! You'd think that veterans' interests would be strongly supported by the very organization that exists to do so, right? Not so.There's also legislation recently discussed in Congress about making up-until-now private information stored with your ISPs available to federal agencies without a warrant in the interest of community safety. How long before banking records might come under that umbrella? How long before your credit card purchase of marijuana under legal conditions in your state is made available to an agency motivated to remove your 2nd Amendment rights?
And, by the way, don't forget that lying on a federal form for purchase of a firearm is a felony gun charge. This version of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" means you're safe from federal prosecution for drug use as long as you don't challenge the left's gun control agenda by actually wanting to exercise your 2nd Amendment rights and possess a firearm.
It's a darn good thing that NONE of my friends have EVER used marijuana! ;)
http://www.wnd.com/2013/04/marijuana-laws-new-tool-to-ban-gun-ownership/
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