Next Draft
Posted: Tue Aug 13, 2013 9:05 pm
One morning, half asleep I answered the telephone and was greeted by a representative of the National Rifle Association. She told me that the NRA wanted me to be the lead plaintiff in two class action lawsuits after finding out that I was qualified to participate in a rifle competition with the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps.
One lawsuit, later to be named James D’Cruz v Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, sought to challenge the premise that citizens between the ages of 18 and 20 were prohibited from buying a pistol or its ammunition from a federally licensed dealer, despite being legally able to do so in a private sale.
The second lawsuit, James D’Cruz v McCraw, sought to allow the citizens, ages 18 to 20, to conceal carry after undergoing proper training and background checks.
Although I disagree with many of the NRA’s positions on firearm possession, I found myself agreeing with the NRA on this matter and so decided to join.
I was raised in a privileged household and my parents encouraged me to befriend children of all social classes. Many of my closest friends grew up in the deprived areas of Lubbock, Texas and they told of the dangers of living in such neighborhoods. The police always seemed to take too long to respond. Since many of them, younger than 21, grew up in single-parent households with no father figure, it seemed logical to me that a firearm in the right hands would provide the security they needed. I felt that the law had forgotten them because of their underprivileged status. I realized that the lawsuits would be contested and I hoped that a healthy debate would result. I was determined to stand up for the rights of this group of individuals rarely protected.
What I failed to anticipate was that instead of engaging in a vigorous debate about the facts, my opponents, namely the Brady Campaign Against Gun Violence and Mothers Against Gun Violence resorted to ad hominem attacks. When they discovered a Facebook photograph of me in my John Dillinger Halloween costume, they decided to link it to many of the military quotes I had posted from movies, books, and friends in the military at the time. Together, they were able to paint a false picture of me which they used to deceive those who once supported me.
The debate I had hoped for never materialized. Instead of an intelligent exchange, my opponents changed the platform from a constitutional question to a personal one questioning whether I had the right to own a firearm at all because of my Facebook posts. Although I was hurt by their accusations in the media, I decided not to respond to such silliness. Shortly after the hysteria died, my father had to relocate to Florida, and, being a dependent, I had to move too. Because the court cases required me to be a resident of Texas I had to relinquish my position as lead plaintiff on both.
Many people on both sides passed judgment on me for either being selfless in acting on the behalf of others, or being too damaging to the cause. Those same people never saw my love for the judicial process take shape. As the affidavits requiring my signature arrived at my home in Florida, became fascinated with the legal process. In my readings, I was stunned to discover that a single judge had the power to declare a 1968 law that set the age limit for pistol purchases unconstitutional, without Congress having to repeal it. When I resumed my studies in Florida I eagerly enrolled in a Constitutional Law class. From the moment the professor walked into the room, I felt something I had never felt in any other setting: a sense of belonging. The work was tremendously dynamic and I toiled to maintain my position at the top of the class, but I also found myself reading law texts for personal enjoyment.
James D’Cruz v BATFE and James D’Cruz v McCraw ultimately fell to the 5th district court.
In the end, although initially I did not have a problem with waiting until I was 21 to buy a pistol, I do not regret standing up for the rights of others. I intend on continuing to stand up for others through my studies in law school, where I will receive the necessary training to be proficient in the law.
What do you think?
One lawsuit, later to be named James D’Cruz v Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, sought to challenge the premise that citizens between the ages of 18 and 20 were prohibited from buying a pistol or its ammunition from a federally licensed dealer, despite being legally able to do so in a private sale.
The second lawsuit, James D’Cruz v McCraw, sought to allow the citizens, ages 18 to 20, to conceal carry after undergoing proper training and background checks.
Although I disagree with many of the NRA’s positions on firearm possession, I found myself agreeing with the NRA on this matter and so decided to join.
I was raised in a privileged household and my parents encouraged me to befriend children of all social classes. Many of my closest friends grew up in the deprived areas of Lubbock, Texas and they told of the dangers of living in such neighborhoods. The police always seemed to take too long to respond. Since many of them, younger than 21, grew up in single-parent households with no father figure, it seemed logical to me that a firearm in the right hands would provide the security they needed. I felt that the law had forgotten them because of their underprivileged status. I realized that the lawsuits would be contested and I hoped that a healthy debate would result. I was determined to stand up for the rights of this group of individuals rarely protected.
What I failed to anticipate was that instead of engaging in a vigorous debate about the facts, my opponents, namely the Brady Campaign Against Gun Violence and Mothers Against Gun Violence resorted to ad hominem attacks. When they discovered a Facebook photograph of me in my John Dillinger Halloween costume, they decided to link it to many of the military quotes I had posted from movies, books, and friends in the military at the time. Together, they were able to paint a false picture of me which they used to deceive those who once supported me.
The debate I had hoped for never materialized. Instead of an intelligent exchange, my opponents changed the platform from a constitutional question to a personal one questioning whether I had the right to own a firearm at all because of my Facebook posts. Although I was hurt by their accusations in the media, I decided not to respond to such silliness. Shortly after the hysteria died, my father had to relocate to Florida, and, being a dependent, I had to move too. Because the court cases required me to be a resident of Texas I had to relinquish my position as lead plaintiff on both.
Many people on both sides passed judgment on me for either being selfless in acting on the behalf of others, or being too damaging to the cause. Those same people never saw my love for the judicial process take shape. As the affidavits requiring my signature arrived at my home in Florida, became fascinated with the legal process. In my readings, I was stunned to discover that a single judge had the power to declare a 1968 law that set the age limit for pistol purchases unconstitutional, without Congress having to repeal it. When I resumed my studies in Florida I eagerly enrolled in a Constitutional Law class. From the moment the professor walked into the room, I felt something I had never felt in any other setting: a sense of belonging. The work was tremendously dynamic and I toiled to maintain my position at the top of the class, but I also found myself reading law texts for personal enjoyment.
James D’Cruz v BATFE and James D’Cruz v McCraw ultimately fell to the 5th district court.
In the end, although initially I did not have a problem with waiting until I was 21 to buy a pistol, I do not regret standing up for the rights of others. I intend on continuing to stand up for others through my studies in law school, where I will receive the necessary training to be proficient in the law.
What do you think?
