This is exactly what the second 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."
Why do conservatives seem to conveniently forget the first part of the sentence? Doesn't this amendment mean that Congress cannot prevent a State from arming it's citizens in order to form, not a "militia," not even a "regulated militia," but a "well regulated militia." It seems to me that not only does this amendment allow for gun control, but in fact, it encourages it. Interpreting this amendment to mean that any citizen (or non-felon) has a Constititional right to own and/or carry a gun is preposterous.
2007-09-26 10:53:37 · 8 answers · asked by Stephen L 6 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Er, ggraves: I know conservatives/republicans are against gun control. That's why when they talk about the second amendment, they conveniently leave out the part about States forming a "well regulated militia." Perhaps you need to read my question again.
2007-09-26 11:04:01 · update #1
ok .. first liberal does not equal democrat and conservative does not equal Republican for the gentlemen who answered above. Their views do tend to meet more often than not however.
The dude who said that the Supreme Court ruled that citizens must have access to military grade weaponry is also bugging. Otherwise I'd have my Apache gunship to commute to work in every day.
This passage, like so many others is just vague enough to be given over to multiple interpretations. It just depends on your prism.
2007-09-26 11:03:35 · answer #1 · answered by BROOOOOKLYN 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
They don't. Liberals conveniently forget that EVERY time the constitution uses the term 'PEOPLE', it refers to INDIVIDUAL citizens. They also ignore that at the time the Bill of Rights was passed, the Militia, consisted of ALL MALE citizens between 14 or 16 (depending on the state) and 40 to 60. The states DID NOT arm the Militia, they required the Militia to arm themselves. Try researching the actual Militia laws of the states from that time.
Side note: As evidenced by the Founders ARMED revolt against the British Crown, the government is one of the things the Militia keeps the state secure from.
2007-09-26 11:58:47 · answer #2 · answered by STEVEN F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You sound like a liberal trying to justify gun control. You can take the 1st amendment of out context any way you like, but it does say "the right of the people to keep and bear arms". You seem to want to just skip that part. You can't just pick what you want and tell everyone that you don't have the right just because you say so. It is very clearly stated in the sentence. It has been there longer than you have so I guess it has value to everyone else. This has nothing to do with gun control. It has to do with your right to security against an aggressor.
2007-09-26 11:08:46 · answer #3 · answered by cgi 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
What? I interpret that to mean . . . even with a well regulated militia, the right of THE PEOPLE(not necessarily only the militia) to keep and bear arms shall not be prohibited.
2007-09-26 11:07:03 · answer #4 · answered by KRR 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you are interpreting it wrong! "The right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." read the last part also!
"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in Government." -- Thomas Jefferson, Author of The Declaration of Independence, and Third President of the United States
2007-09-26 11:02:13 · answer #5 · answered by sweet_blonde_laydee 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What do you mean? Conservatives are against gun control. Liberals = Democrats are the party that want to control hand guns and eliminate automatics. Let me repeat; Liberals = Democrats are the party that want to control guns... Not Conservatives = Republicans.
Republicans are the party that want to outlaw any abortion, Conservatives = Republicans.
2007-09-26 10:59:14 · answer #6 · answered by ggraves1724 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Under the term "Militia" I am one. If you have over a thousand rounds of ammo, you are considered a militia and I have not only a thousand but many thousand rounds of ammo for many different calibers which I also own including grenades and grenade launchers for those huge rabbits and squirrels I might encounter so get off my back. It's people like me that will save your butt if we should get invaded.
2007-09-26 11:03:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Supreme Court ruled it is constitutional. In 1939, it ruled that Americans should have access to military weapons. That includes hand guns.
2007-09-26 10:56:22 · answer #8 · answered by a bush family member 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋