



http://traffic.libsyn.com/bloodandbillions/tyranny_draft_final.mp3

(intro: 0 – 7 min. Gun rally interviews: 7 min. – 18:48. Powe: 20:42 min. – 30:31 min. Outro: 39:00)

Welcome to the first episode of Blood and Billions. This is going to be a podcast that looks at the different ways control and corruption affect politics, laws, and everyday life. In this episode, I take a look at one of the more interesting aspects of the current con control debate: the growing belief among some gun rights activists that proposed gun control policies are nothing but a way for the government to control and suppress the people – and that the people will soon have to rise up against the government with their assault rifles in hand.

I then talk to Lucas Powe, a Constitutional Law professor at UT Austin who explains his interpretation of the Second Amendment and whether or not it gives an individual the right to bear arms against the government with a weapon of their choice. There is a lot of debate these days about what the Second Amendment means and what its limitations are. And certainly, Powe’s interpretation is not the only one. But he explains what he thinks are the limitations of the Second Amendment when it comes to an individual buying a high-powered weapon and waiting for the government to “come and take it,” which has been a common phrase lately.

Powe also explains his theory as to why there is such a push among gun rights advocates to protect gun rights. Hint: gun manufacturers are funding the NRA to bully politicians so they can sell more guns.

Here are some links that accompany this episode:

Violence Policy Center: “How the Gun Industry Bankrolls the NRA”

OpenSecrets.org summary of NRA donations