Do you believe that? How about this:
“The individual’s right to bear arms applies only to the preservation of a ‘well regulated militia.’ Except for lawful police and military purposes, the possession of weapons by individuals is not constitutionally protected.�? – The ACLU 2
Well, what does the Second Amendment say?
A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear and bear arms shall not be infringed.
It strikes me as necessary to understand just what the Founding Fathers really meant when they framed this part of the Bill of Rights to thoroughly understand its intent, as a certain President in our past has said:
On every question of construction, carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed. 3
So, the original intent of the Founding Fathers is what counts when interpreting the Bill of Rights, or so I imagine from reading that. What was the original intent of the Founders and American patriots of that day…?
“Who are the militia? They consist now of the whole people.�? George Mason, ‘Father of the Bills of Rights. 4
“The Militia is composed of free citizens.�? Samuel Adams, ‘Father of the American Revolution.’ 5
“No Free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.�? Thomas Jefferson 6
“Congress…have the sword in one hand, and the purse in the other…where and when did freedom exist, when the sword and purse were given up by the people?�? Patrick Henry 7
i could give dozens of more quotes, but the fact of the matter is, those who led our nation when it was originally founded made it very clear that “the right to keep and bear arms�? applies to individuals. And what’s more, when the power over money and arms are lost (as stated by Patrick Henry) freedom is lost as well.
Tell me, if you lived in a country on the brink of anarchy, how would you defend yourself if someone – including the government – wanted to do you harm? If the government isn’t going to or is incapable of defending you, you’re pretty much on your own. And, if you have no right to fight back and defend yourself, and no means to do it with…
In some countries today, criminals are actually protected by the law if they are attacked while in the process of committing a crime!
England is a prime example of this, where a man can be taken to court by a burglar who invaded his home if he tries to stop the said burglar.
The “right…to keep and bear arms�? is an individual, inalienable right of the American citizen. And when it is completely lost, I believe America’s freedom in any form whatsoever will cease to exist.
1 Richard Benedetto, “Gun Rights are a Myth,�? USA Today, December 28, 1994.
2 ACLU, policy statement #47, 1996
3 Thomas Jefferson, to Judge William Johnson June 12, 1823
4 George Mason on June 16 1788
5 Samuel Adams to James Warren on January 7, 1776
6 Id., vol. 2 at 344
7 Id. at 168-169
Suggested Reading:
- The Second Amendment by David Barton
- More Guns, Less Crime by John R. Lott, jr.
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