Re: OT: Our right to bear arms

On Feb 15, 2:20 pm, JerseyRudy <43083...@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Feb 15 2008 1:53 PM, WuzYoungOnceToo wrote:



On Feb 15 2008 12:01 PM, Raider Fan wrote:

The Constiution, drafted in the 18th century, gave us the right to bear
arms. That was way before we became an industrialized population. Back
then we had to protect ourselves against various animals and natives.

I'd love to see our politicians have enough balls to stand up to the NRA
and repeal the bill orright that gave this power. It has caused many more
problems than it has solved.

You're really on an ill-informed roll this morning. First off, you're
demonstrating a fundamental misunderstanding of the nature of the Bill of
Rights. The 2A didn't "give" us any "power". It, like the other original
9, codified and protected a fundamental and inherent right that was
recognized by the Founders as already existing (hence the "inherent"
part). You really need to reflect on the difference between the two
concepts, as it is absolutely critical to any sort of intelligent
analysis/discussion of this or any other issue pertaining to the BoR.

Secondly, the primary concerns for protecting the right to keep and bear
arms had very little to do with defense against animals (the ability to
hunt was important, but that's not defense) and natives. At the time of
the drafting of the Constitution, hostile Indian raids weren't much of an
issue in most of New England. But the framer's were quite concerned with
an individual's ability to defend himself against any threat, whatever it
was...including an oppressive and tyrannical government. Those two main
concerns are no less valid today than they were in the late 18th century.
Likewise, your inherent right to the means to defend against unwarranted
agression remains unabated, if more than a little infringed here and there.

And as for "stand[ing] up to the NRA" to repeal the 2nd, I'm afraid you're
*extremely* out of touch with who it is pro-2A politicians are getting
their cues from. Every major poll taken on the subject says that
Americans overwhelmingly back the individual right to keep and bear arms.
So what you're suggesting is that our elected representatives tell us (the
majority) to shove our rights up our collective and individual asses.

I suggest you stay home come election day.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Be polite. Be professional. But...have a plan to kill everyone you meet."

The problem is when the NRA uses their lobbying muscle on the politicians who
are beholden to them for the purpose of preventing the passage of reasonable
gun-control legislation that the vast majority of Americans support. Such as the
gun-show loophole which allows psychos such as the Virginia Tech killer and the
Columbine killers to buy guns from a dealer at a gun-show without been subjected
to any background check.

The 2nd Amendment is fine in ensuring that law-abiding citizens own guns
pursuant to proper licensing and registration. But as with any constitutional
right, it is subject to reasonable restrictions; and when the Gun lobby tries to
prevent any of these reasonable restrictions, the result is the deaths of many
innocent people.

Many of us who would go along with some reasonable legislation, such
as getting rid of the gun-show loopholes, are made somewhat cautious
about things when the anti-gun people admit publicly that their goal
is a complete ban.

Will in New Haven

--

"Let me make a point here, in case this isn't becoming extremely
clear. My state has gun control laws. It did not keep Hennard from
coming in and killing everybody! What it did do, was keep me from
protecting my family! That's the only thing that cotton pickin' law
did! OK! Understand that! That's ...that's so important!"
Dr. Suzanne Gratia, Killeen Texas Luby's massacre survivor
.

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