Tiny: Thanks for that well reasoned analysis of my OP.
You pose the question, "Will any of the freedoms and protections of the Bill of Rights or the Constitution itself survive?" Of course, this is America. Not a lot will change. Although yes, if several conservative members of the Supreme Court croak and are replaced then you could see gun owners having a tougher time.
Originally Posted by Tiny
My only quibble is on gun control. I was less concerned about gun control itself and more concerned about the apparent ease at which a state legislature could modify a specific amendment in the Bill of Rights. I tried to make my point by extending the argument into the absurd; as in it would seem absurd to forbid the publication of an Op-Ed authored by anyone under the age of thirty. The truly absurd extension is to extend the age beyond the average life expectancy. But there is a defiant trend towards speech control today. This may be less absurd than I first thought.
I happened again when a state legislature suspended several aspects of the First Amendment regarding both the freedom to worship and the right of assembly. To my astonishment, this has been upheld by the Supreme Court.
Even though we thought there were conservative appointees there, it seems some have drunk the Cool-Aid so to speak. This is another reason, perhaps the strongest and over-riding reason to return Trump in November.