It is the 2nd amendment in the bill of rights.
What dose it really mean?
Is it saying any citizen CAN purchase a gun and 'bear' or carry around on them wherever they go?
2007-03-26 22:02:06 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
Basically, yes. Regulation at the time of the writing meant training to the level of regulars. In a Supreme Court decision that was never overturned in the 1930s, it ruled that the government could only legislate weapons possession if the weapon had no military value. This came about to test the new law that made sawed-off shotguns illegal. The court ruled that since a sawed off shotgun had no military value, the law was legal. Do I want people having SAMs in their backyard? Of course not, but that ruling means it's legal. There are a lot of things in the US Constitution that are simply ignored. It's been normal practice for some time to either only follow it when convenient or to re-interpret it to fit modern ideas. To me, neither is acceptable. The founders knew that things change and allowed for a way to do that called amendments. If enough people felt that individuals should not be allowed to carry arms, then it would be amended. The other methods are generally characterized as the tyranny of the majority - where a small majority could take away people's rights. The Constitution was designed so that only a large majority could cause change so as to avoid chaos. Why political appointees (judges) think and have been allowed to change the Constitution on a whim instead of allowing the people to decide (called elitism) strikes me as extremely dangerous to the personal liberties that the Constitution was designed to protect. As far as that goes, the Constitution designated the states, not the courts, as the defenders of the people.
2007-03-26 22:40:16 · answer #1 · answered by Caninelegion 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Of course not. All of the rights in the Bill of Rights are only good, if they are reasonable.
Pick any of the Rights. The litmus test is the right of the individual vs the right/safety of the people.
1st amendment - Freedom of Religion... you can choose to be a believer of whatever religion you want. But, some of the actions associated with that religion can be banned. Sacrificing animals in public, marrying more than one spouse.
Freedom of Press - Child Porn, need I say more?
Freedom to assemble - you cannot block the enterance or exit of any building.
Speach - you cannot libel and slander people. Or say things that may start a riot.
2nd Amendment - Felons owning Firearms is not reasonable, nor is arming the mentally ill.
The list goes on and on.
2007-04-01 17:04:05 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Second Amendment applies to members of a militia.
If reader isn't a militia member then the second amendment is not addressing you.
Feel free to change the language so everyone not in a militia can bear 'weapons of military value' but until the USA Bill Of Rights Second Amendment language is changed only outlaws value military issue apart from militia and Civil Authorities.
2007-04-02 23:52:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The right to bear arms is for certain type of weapons. As one stated yes, you need a permit to carry a gun on your person but you can have a shotgun or rifle in your truck....unloaded.
A small gun can lay on the car seat and not be a concealed weapon. Even with a permit you still can not go into public buildings with it unless you are a law officer.
2007-03-27 07:27:35 · answer #4 · answered by Gypsygrl 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
pretty much if you are a lawfully person some states laws restrict this but most don't in most states you can get a concealed weapon permit i have one and unlike what that other person said you can carry a pistol in most building but not federal buildings or if they have a sign saying no guns and unlike what that other person said in most states there is no waiting time to get a gun they just call in and do a record check it only take a few minutes and in most states you can get automatic guns to i have one you have got to get a class 3 tax stamp its not hard to get but i will take some time to get most of them take 3 to 6 mouths mine took 10 mouths but the ATF made a mistake
2007-03-27 13:08:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, there are provisions to that, such as the Brady Bill. That means a background check has to be made before a final sale is done. It's waiting time is usually 5 days. In my state, you have to have a registration to carry a handgun. It varies from state-to-state.
2007-03-27 05:05:59 · answer #6 · answered by gone 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It means you can keep bears as pets, but you have to arm them....they made a mistake when they wrote it and got it reversed....never got changed. Everyone's been misled about it so far.
2007-03-28 00:31:36 · answer #7 · answered by idog 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In some states, you can carry a firearm without a permit if it is visible.
2007-04-01 01:10:10 · answer #8 · answered by Gardner? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they have to be of age to purchase, cant be a convicted felon and cant carry on them unless they have a permit.
2007-03-31 20:45:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes but they amended the amendment , if you know what i mean.
2007-03-27 05:07:45 · answer #10 · answered by booge 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋