"On balance I prefer legislation to boycotts, blacklists, and divestments. The former is part of our open system of checks and balances and can be challenged in the courts. The latter can be imposed by a small cadre of determined individuals who are not subject to any democratic constraints. So let us pressure Congress to enact tough gun-control laws. Let us create lobby groups to offset the negative influence of the National Rifle Association."
I find his article remarkably naive. The problem is we don't have a real democracy in the USA. We have a corpotatocracy where the elected legislators are in thrall to big business and big special interest groups like the NRA, which is helped by billionaires like the Koch brothers and ALEC. The good idea to take from Dershowitz is his confirmation that "...boycotts, blacklists, and divestments...can be imposed by a small cadre of determined individuals who are not subject to any democratic constraints." In other words, activists, if they play their cards right, and develop boycott and divestment strategies, building partnerships and allying with major retirement funds, can make big changes that legislators can't or won't do.
Then there are the retailer responses. Here, the power of the minority also has great potential. I'm convinced that now is a perfect time for social media campaigns to put pressure on retailers-- box store and on-line-- to totally eliminate high volume clips or magazines with more than 10 cartridges from their offerings. If they're not even on the market it will make it easier for legislators to pass legislation that permanently bans them.
it would be very nice if some good comes out of the Newtown tragedy. The signs are manifesting. Now is the time for activists to spring into action.
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