Reader Sam I Am writes:
This blog is about guns, but sometimes we need to look elsewhere for hints about what is coming down the pike for guns, gun owners, and gun rights. For that reason, I’m resurrecting the discussion about the Kavanaugh confirmation.
Despite all the clamor, it was difficult to engage in a measured conversation about just what we were getting with Kavanaugh when he was nominated. Any caution recommended was met with scorn in no uncertain terms.
So after all the sturm und drang and now that he’s a sitting Supreme Court Justice, time has begun to bring a bit more clarity. I recommend you read yesterday’s post by Gil Gutknecht’s at Townhall.com entitled, Soutered Again?
Because many here won’t actually click over, here are some important excerpts for your consideration:
Kavanaugh –
- Senator Collins of Maine is quite comfortable with Roe v. Wade surviving
- Republican-nominated Supreme Court Justices were the deciding factors in decisions regarding campaign finance “reform”, Obamacare and gay marriage.
- On 93% of cases in the lower court, Kavanaugh and Garland concurred (agreed with each other).
- A former clerk to Justice Ginsberg (a clerk who “has argued more cases before of the Supreme Court than any other woman”), and staunch supporter of Roe thinks Kavanaugh is mainstream in his legal thinking
- Kavanaugh thinks Marbury v. Madison (one of the cornerstones of judicial activism) is one of the four greatest Supreme Court rulings ever.
- He told Collins that past decisions become “part of our legal framework.” He added that precedents are not merely judicial policy, not a goal, but a constitutional tenant.
Is Kavanaugh better than Obama’s candidate, Merrick Garland? Perhaps more like an equivalent, but better than another abject radical. Is he an originalist, textualist, constitutionalist, a “gun rights” activist or a squish? As in all things, time will tell us. Caveat emptor.