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Comment by robotresearcher | Hacker News Reader

The constitution only applies to citizens.

Edit: apparently I was mistaken. It applies to 'the people' of the US, which is anyone with 'substantial connection' to the US and under US jurisdiction. Green card holders would seem to be pretty clearly of 'the people' then.

Of course, it's a damn shame to treat any legal immigrant or legitimate asylum seeker this way. Seems to be absolutely against the long standing traditions of the country.

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We detached this subthread from https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13512265 and marked it off-topic.

That's a... heterodox interpretation of things.

The vast majority of the constitution makes no distinction between citizens and non-citizens subject to American jurisdiction (the exceptions, of course, being for voting and holding office).

Shouldn't non-citizen foreign nationals be granted the right to keep and bare arms, then?

Permanent residents can own firearms in the US. We are also required to register for the draft and expected to serve if drafted.

I'm pretty sure we are - https://blogs.valpo.edu/law/does-the-second-amendment-apply-...

They are. My father owned several guns (we used to go hunting) before we were naturalized (in 2007). I think he owned a .30-06 rifle even before we had our green cards.

I believe the 4473 form for transferring a firearm asks residency status and requires an alien number if you are not a citizen. I'm 99% sure PR status is required...

He bought them from gun shows. In Georgia, all you need is a bill of sale with the gun's serial number signed by both parties.

Oh, duh. Private sales don't require a 4473 in my state either. Or does Georgia not do 4473's at all?

Edit. We both made edits - that makes sense!

Haha yep! I'm not sure what the processes is getting it from a vendor.

Maybe try reading Article III, Section II:

https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/articleiii

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