By Ben Carson - 7/23/2024
Liberals often misunderstand those who stand strongly in support of the right of all Americans to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the Constitution. Often, that is because defenders of gun rights argue in the context of self-defense against violent criminals–a legitimate use of legal firearms, of course, but not the primary reason the Framers put forth for protecting gun rights.
Retired neurosurgeon and best-selling author Dr. Ben Carson explained the reason for the Second Amendment recently at the Western Conservative Summit in Denver, as reported by CSN News.
The authors of the Constitution wrote it in the context of the American Revolution–a war fought against Great Britain for individual liberty and against government tyranny. Thus, the Second Amendment protections, Dr. Carson says.
“We don’t even necessarily want [the government] to know who has weapons. You have a right to have weapons,” he added to loud applause.
Placing the writing of the Constitution in its proper historical context is key to understanding the Second Amendment, or, for that matter, any portion of the documents on which American liberty is founded. But our reading of history should not stop there when we consider the importance of the American right to bear arms.
Dr. Carson also reminds us that throughout history, whenever a dictator began to rise to power, the confiscation of weapons from the hands of ordinary citizens was one of their first priorities.
Citizens who consider their guns rights important to their defense of life and property are correct to do so. Others who are worried about guns getting into the wrong hands also have legitimate concerns. But all citizens must understand that these are secondary considerations when it comes to gun rights.
The primary consideration is the protection of the individual safety, personal liberty, and economic opportunity that a tyrannical government would threaten.
Retired neurosurgeon and best-selling author Dr. Ben Carson explained the reason for the Second Amendment recently at the Western Conservative Summit in Denver, as reported by CSN News.
The authors of the Constitution wrote it in the context of the American Revolution–a war fought against Great Britain for individual liberty and against government tyranny. Thus, the Second Amendment protections, Dr. Carson says.
"It was put there for a very specific reason, so that the people could act in support of the military in case of an invasion,” he explained. “But more importantly, so that people could protect themselves from an overly aggressive government if that ever happened.”
Dr. Carson says that this purpose of the Second Amendment is “vitally important” and that, therefore, government should never compromise gun rights. That’s not the same, he says, as ignoring the danger posed by guns in the hands of criminals or the mentally ill. He believes that conservatives should be willing to have a conversation about what can be done about criminal gun violence “without compromising any provision of the 2nd Amendment.”“We don’t even necessarily want [the government] to know who has weapons. You have a right to have weapons,” he added to loud applause.
Placing the writing of the Constitution in its proper historical context is key to understanding the Second Amendment, or, for that matter, any portion of the documents on which American liberty is founded. But our reading of history should not stop there when we consider the importance of the American right to bear arms.
Dr. Carson also reminds us that throughout history, whenever a dictator began to rise to power, the confiscation of weapons from the hands of ordinary citizens was one of their first priorities.
Citizens who consider their guns rights important to their defense of life and property are correct to do so. Others who are worried about guns getting into the wrong hands also have legitimate concerns. But all citizens must understand that these are secondary considerations when it comes to gun rights.
The primary consideration is the protection of the individual safety, personal liberty, and economic opportunity that a tyrannical government would threaten.
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