Everyone laughed when Texas A&M went and bought itself a law school. Now the joke really is on conservative Aggies, with word that the dean selection committee includes a professor who says the Second Amendment should be repealed and tells students that the U.S. Constitution is outdated.

One can only wonder what prominent, pro-gun, pro-constitution conservative Aggie officials like Governor Rick Perry, Attorney General-hopeful Barry Smitherman, Lieutenant Governor-hopefuls Jerry Patterson and Todd Staples have to say about the decidedly out-there views of Professor Mary Margaret “Meg” Penrose.

Or even about the circumstances that allowed her to be among those deciding who the first dean of the Texas A&M School of Law will be…?

So far, no one has said anything.

It’s not like she has been whispering these things in private.

A November article in the Daily Caller was headlined “CALL TO ARMS: Texas A&M law prof says it’s time to repeal Second Amendment.”

Professor Penrose’s call to repeal the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment did not come at a Wendy Davis cocktail party, but “a day-long panel symposium on gun control and the Second Amendment at the University of Connecticut School of Law in Hartford.”

(The event included a speech by the governor of Connecticut who said the Second Amendment is very limited and bragged “about the strict gun control laws he signed earlier this year.”)

So, what’s Texas A&M employee Penrose’s reason for repealing the Second Amendment? Here’s what Penrose said: “I think the Second Amendment is misunderstood and I think it’s time today, in our drastic measures, to repeal and replace that Second Amendment.”

According to CTNewsJunkie.com, Penrose describes herself as “extremely passionate about the United States Constitution.” I can safely say that this is NOT how people “passionate” about the U.S. Constitution usually talk about it:

Penrose said she advocates redrafting the entire U.S. Constitution when she teaches constitutional law courses. She said American life has changed drastically since the 18th Century when the constitution was adopted.

“Why do we keep such an allegiance to a constitution that was driven by 18th Century concerns? How many of you recognize that the main concern of the 18th Century was a standing army? That’s what motivated the Second Amendment: fear of a standing army,” she said.

Remember: she serves on the selection committee picking the first dean of the A&M School of Law. Gig ‘em!

Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and free to express it – that’s one of those outdated, 18th Century ideas in the U.S. Constitution.

In fairness, the Daily Caller pointed out, Penrose says each state should determine what gun rights the people enjoy.

But, come to think of it … why does Penrose stop at the Second Amendment?

I wonder what other fundamental rights she’d support the states abridging? Would she allow each state to decide if people should enjoy the freedoms of speech, religion and the press? Maybe Penrose would let each determine the legality of slavery? Would she make “due process” optional? Where would Prof. Penrose stop in re-writing our rights?

The school’s administration and Board of Regents should be embarrassed by this fringe nutcase. Even more so, Aggies should be horrified that she has been allowed to determine what kind of dean will lead the law school operating under the name of Texas A&M.

Unless they believe the Texas A&M School of Law should be a haven for radical anti-gun, anti-constitution liberalism, the self-proclaimed lovers of the Constitution in (and running for) office should demand her immediate removal from the search committee.

Some Aggie jokes really just aren’t funny. More importantly, cavalier attitudes about the primacy of the U.S. Constitution should not be promoted in Texas’ institutions of higher education.

Michael Quinn Sullivan

Michael Quinn Sullivan is the publisher of Texas Scorecard. He is a native Texan, a graduate of Texas A&M, and an Eagle Scout. Previously, he has worked as a newspaper reporter, magazine contributor, Capitol Hill staffer, and think tank vice president. Michael and his wife have three adult children, a son-in-law, and a dog. Michael is the author of three books, including "Reflections on Life and Liberty."

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