By Earl Schwartz
The authors of the amendment clearly intended to guarantee citizens the right to the kinds of weapons issued to ordinary infantry, not only to the specific type of firearm available when the Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791.
Consider what the amendment says: "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Given that all able free men between 18 and 45 had to be enrolled in the militia (see Statutes at Large, 2nd Congress, 1st Session, 271), the militia clause amounts to a promise that citizens can have the weapons needed to defend the security of the state. Nowadays that means, at the least, an ordinary infantry weapon such as an M-16 or an AK-47.
One might argue that such a promise is anachronistic in this age of sophisticated warfare. Even in the 18th century most understood that militia men could not stand up to well-drilled professionals. But the Second Amendment still says what it says. Don't like it? Repeal it, if you can.
The Columbian, WA
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Perspective On the 2nd Amendment
By Neil W. McCabe, Editor Guns & Patriots
When a plane crashes with 100, 200 even 300 people killed. The main stream media constantly reminds us how very, very safe flying actually is. You know this is true.
When one or two or five madman out of 300 million Americans in a given year goes on a rampage with firearms, what does the MSM say?
I don't have to tell you. Turn on your radio or TV right now are hear that it is time to instill gun control on the rest of the 300 million who did not go on a rampage.
In the case of the attack on the Sikh temple, some reporters focused on the heroism of the temple leader. He died trying to stop the killer with his ceremonial knife. This was the right lesson. Sadly, he died defending the people and temple he loved.
Imagine now if the leader had a gun.
Conceivably, if the temple leader was armed with gun, he could have put the killer down--saving more lives and his own.
Of course, were that to happen, the main strean media would never mention it. Go figure.
From - GunsandPatriots@email.humanevents.com
When a plane crashes with 100, 200 even 300 people killed. The main stream media constantly reminds us how very, very safe flying actually is. You know this is true.
When one or two or five madman out of 300 million Americans in a given year goes on a rampage with firearms, what does the MSM say?
I don't have to tell you. Turn on your radio or TV right now are hear that it is time to instill gun control on the rest of the 300 million who did not go on a rampage.
In the case of the attack on the Sikh temple, some reporters focused on the heroism of the temple leader. He died trying to stop the killer with his ceremonial knife. This was the right lesson. Sadly, he died defending the people and temple he loved.
Imagine now if the leader had a gun.
Conceivably, if the temple leader was armed with gun, he could have put the killer down--saving more lives and his own.
Of course, were that to happen, the main strean media would never mention it. Go figure.
From - GunsandPatriots@email.humanevents.com
Sunday, August 12, 2012
2nd Amendment Strangled by Regulation
By JW Ross
The Universal Health Care Bill is turning out to be the Trojan Horse that the critics predicted.
The bill is written with such broad strokes that almost "anything" can be construed to be under the purview of "health care" (and health care administrators).
Now it is the 2nd Amendment.
With any game changing laws on the "right to own and bear arms" awaiting the appointment of a new justice to the Supreme Court, opponents are now trying to regulate guns as if they were a virus, a car, tobacco or alcohol?
Doctors call for public-health approach to controlling gun violence
By Marilynn Marchione, The Associated Press
MILWAUKEE -- Is a gun like a virus, a car, tobacco or alcohol?
Yes! say public-health experts, who in the wake of recent mass shootings are calling for a fresh look at gun violence as a social disease.
What we need, they say, is a public-health approach to the problem, like the highway safety measures, product changes and driving laws that slashed deaths from car crashes decades ago, even as the number of vehicles on the road rose.
The Universal Health Care Bill is turning out to be the Trojan Horse that the critics predicted.
The bill is written with such broad strokes that almost "anything" can be construed to be under the purview of "health care" (and health care administrators).
Now it is the 2nd Amendment.
With any game changing laws on the "right to own and bear arms" awaiting the appointment of a new justice to the Supreme Court, opponents are now trying to regulate guns as if they were a virus, a car, tobacco or alcohol?
Doctors call for public-health approach to controlling gun violence
By Marilynn Marchione, The Associated Press
MILWAUKEE -- Is a gun like a virus, a car, tobacco or alcohol?
Yes! say public-health experts, who in the wake of recent mass shootings are calling for a fresh look at gun violence as a social disease.
What we need, they say, is a public-health approach to the problem, like the highway safety measures, product changes and driving laws that slashed deaths from car crashes decades ago, even as the number of vehicles on the road rose.
Monday, August 6, 2012
India - Women & the 2nd Amendment
By Dwaipayan Ghosh - TNN Aug 4, 2012
NEW DELHI: It could be a new measure of women's emancipation or just a passing fad, but Delhi Police has been stumped by the huge number of working women seeking gun licences. The trend is partly a response to the city's lawlessness but may also reflect the growing need of women to be in control, claim senior officers.
In the past two years, Delhi cops have received over 900 applications for guns from women. While year 2010 saw around 320 applications, the figure had grown to around 500 in 2011. But it's not only the numbers that's a break from the past. There's a change as well in the reasons cited by women for bearing arms.
NEW DELHI: It could be a new measure of women's emancipation or just a passing fad, but Delhi Police has been stumped by the huge number of working women seeking gun licences. The trend is partly a response to the city's lawlessness but may also reflect the growing need of women to be in control, claim senior officers.
In the past two years, Delhi cops have received over 900 applications for guns from women. While year 2010 saw around 320 applications, the figure had grown to around 500 in 2011. But it's not only the numbers that's a break from the past. There's a change as well in the reasons cited by women for bearing arms.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Illinois: Governor Abuses Amendatory Veto Powers to Propose Semi-Auto Ban
NRA - August 1, 2012
Quinn uses a previously NRA-Backed Ammunition Purchase Reform Bill as Vehicle for Gun Ban
Yesterday, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn (D) vetoed the NRA-backed ammunition purchase reform bill, Senate Bill 681, after this common sense legislation had passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in the Illinois legislature (previously reported on here). In a crass attempt to exploit the recent tragedy in Colorado and seek media attention, Quinn used his Amendatory Veto powers in a foolhardy attempt to impose more draconian gun control in Illinois. Quinn rewrote the entire bill as an amendment to the Illinois Criminal Code that includes an onerous ban on the manufacture, possession, delivery or sale of commonly-owned semi-automatic firearms (inaccurately referred to as “assault weapons”), .50 caliber rifles and cartridges and “high capacity” magazines in Illinois. Quinn’s amendment additionally tramples on the rights of Illinois citizens by creating a de facto statewide registration scheme for currently-owned firearms and magazines.
Quinn uses a previously NRA-Backed Ammunition Purchase Reform Bill as Vehicle for Gun Ban
Yesterday, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn (D) vetoed the NRA-backed ammunition purchase reform bill, Senate Bill 681, after this common sense legislation had passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in the Illinois legislature (previously reported on here). In a crass attempt to exploit the recent tragedy in Colorado and seek media attention, Quinn used his Amendatory Veto powers in a foolhardy attempt to impose more draconian gun control in Illinois. Quinn rewrote the entire bill as an amendment to the Illinois Criminal Code that includes an onerous ban on the manufacture, possession, delivery or sale of commonly-owned semi-automatic firearms (inaccurately referred to as “assault weapons”), .50 caliber rifles and cartridges and “high capacity” magazines in Illinois. Quinn’s amendment additionally tramples on the rights of Illinois citizens by creating a de facto statewide registration scheme for currently-owned firearms and magazines.
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