New at Reason

Julian Sanchez | September 1, 2005

Jeff Taylor discovers that state governors are huge fans of the Second Amendment—when they think it might protect their right to military pork.

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|9.1.05 @ 5:03PM|#

That's an interesting way to put it, considering both that the A-10s in question are ground-attack aircraft and that the Air Force would like to move the planes all of 12 miles away. Into Massachusetts.

I, for one can't blame them. After all who knows when those dirty bastards in Massachusetts will try to invade Connecticut.

Yeah, I'm lookin' at you, joe:)

|9.1.05 @ 5:05PM|#

Oh, my dear fellow, you are so delightfully naive - when hasn't the military been a pork engine? The first six post-Revolutionary frigates of the US Navy were built in six yards in six different states, with 'Constellation' costing 1.6 times as much as its virtual sister-ship 'Congress' (the latter ship actually costing more than any of the three larger 'Constitution' type.)

|9.1.05 @ 5:16PM|#

Oops - that should have been "former ship." 'Constellation' cost $314,000 to build at Baltimore, compared to $197,000 for 'Congress' at Portsmouth NH; the Boston-built 'Constitution' was most expensive of the heavier trio at $302,000, with New York-built 'President' the cheapest at $221,000. (The third of the 44-gun ships was 'United States', built at Philadelphia for $299,000; the third of the 38-gun ships was 'Chesapeake', built at Norfolk VA for $220,000. 'President' was also the cheapest relative to size, costing about $140/ton; 'Constellation' the most expensive at a staggering $248/ton. The 44-gun ships gauged about 1576 tons BOM, the 38-gun ships about 1265.)

alkali|9.1.05 @ 5:16PM|#

New Haven must be disarmed, by force if necessary.

tomWright|9.1.05 @ 5:32PM|#

There is a simple answer to all this.
Open up legal possesion of armed aircraft to the citizenry and let the free market operate.

Early adopters will pay a lot, as with all new toys on the market, but in a few years prices will plummet, innovation will increase and reliability will improve.

Heck, it worked for video games.

Tom

|9.1.05 @ 6:21PM|#

Let me get this straight, they are saying the Second Amendment was intended to amend Article 1 Section 10 which says that States require the permission of Congress to "keep troops" or "ships of war". Or does an attack aircraft not constitute a ship of war? It's a good thing their "jack booted thugs" aren't troops.

|9.1.05 @ 7:36PM|#

keep the A-10

Jeff P.|9.1.05 @ 8:39PM|#

As a Springfield MA native who immigrated to Connecticut close to 20 years ago, I can say that the only reason for Mass to invade CT is to liberate us from the 8PM liquor store closings.