Paul Helmke of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence made this statement (and here) the other day:

These incidents all highlight the tensions involved when individuals argue that their “personal liberty” outweighs the rule of law and trumps community policy as decided by our governmental systems.

I presume this means we should just ignore the "personal liberty" issue if it is in conflict with community policy because of the tension it causes. Here are some other community policy issues decided by our governmental systems that I'm certain Helmke will agree with:

From Leavenworth, WA September 2, 2007. Notice the weapons prohibition on the right.

From St. Louis Missouri, August 13, 2006.

And here are thousands of more laws and regulations affecting the possession and use of firearms. "Community policies" that severely restrict and in some cases ban the exercise of a constitutionally guaranteed right. And according to Helmke's organization all these thousands of laws are not enough. The "community policies" get a "failing score" in his world view.

I can't help but note the similarities between the "community policies" above and those from not too many years ago. Then, as now, there were people who argued their personal liberties trumped "community policy" and it caused tension.

[Except where noted the following pictures are from About.com: African-American History.]

From http://www.cah.utexas.edu/ssspot/lesson_plans/lesson_10.php

And here are some laws representing "community policy" Helmke should feel comfortable with.

Helmke and friends argue they just want to prevent violence. They argue they just want "common sense" laws. They argue no business should be forced to allow "those people" on their premises. They argue no colleges/university should be forced to allow "those people" on their campus. They argue "those people" should be fingerprinted and registered by the government.

Those arguments are the same as those of the Jim Crow era and are no more valid.

The other similarity that cannot be ignored--same political party has been claiming "community policy" should not be trumped by constitutionally guaranteed personal liberties. Democrats--the party of bigots.