The five extra words that can fix the Second Amendment

[PALADIN85020]

Considering that, in light of what meaning the language had at the time the Constitution was penned, I don't see what the big deal is since we essentially -are- the "militia" and we wouldn't be "well-regulated" if we didn't have access to the proper equipment.

So this op. ed. is, in essence, just another flub from the "living document" school of thought.

Nothing to really get one's feathers ruffled over.

Edited to Add: Pennsylvania got it right, at least, by preempting this exact sort of nonsense...

"The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned."

and:

"To guard against the transgressions of the high powers which we have delegated, we declare that everything in this article is excepted out of the general powers of government and shall forever remain inviolate."

I double-dang well guarantee you that at some point in time, the politicians will be arguing about the TRUE meaning of "excepted" and "inviolate" in never-ending attempts to disarm us all completely by trying to tell us that phrase really doesn't mean what it says. Nothing could be clearer than "shall not be infringed," but you see what they've done with that over time.

John

 

[ladyT]

I am so sick of people arguing that the Second Amendment is only about militias or some such nonsense.

The Bill of Rights was incorporated into the Constitution in order to protect the " INDIVIDUAL " rights of citizens from being infringed by the government. It is incomprehensible that in a list of 10 amendments safeguarding the rights of 'the people', the Founders would have included an amendment guaranteeing the right of government militias to be armed.

Furthermore, the right of the government to be armed is already included in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution, which authorizes Congress to maintain a Navy and raise an army.

Finally...having defeated the world's greatest superpower (Great Britain) with a largely civilian, volunteer army, it is simply inconceivable that the Founders would endorse the notion that only the government should be armed.

Here let me fix this for you. See the change in in red.

 

[dbltapster]

What would Justice Stevens say if a state government became oppressive and tyrannical? If the state controls the National Guard, and we citizens would have to be part of the National Guard to possess firearms, how are we to fight against the very entity we must be part of to possess weapons to thwart it in the first place?!!! Stevens is/was a liberal who happened to be a judge. Nothing more.

 

[old bear]

The five extra words that can fix the Second Amendment

I didn't know it was broken.

 

[Fortcouragearmory]

With no due respect to Justice Stevens, he should shut the hell up. As has already been said, the 2A isn't "broken" so it sure doesn't need fixing. I think someone above has already said he's an intellectual lightweight. That about covers it.

 

[safearm]

The only good news is Justice Stevens is retired and could not sway a majority of the justices in either the Heller or McDonald cases with his arguments. Let him write all of the books he wants; he won't make any money from me.

 

[jag312]

Senile old "coarse file".

 

[mc5aw]

NYS imposed Drakonian laws re: AR ownership, so what did people do? They crafted modular AR stocks that bypass all illegality and allow NYers enjoy ARs. Let the self righteous do-gooders amend 2A and see how fast we incorporate ourselves into legally defined militias enjoying our amended 2A rights.

 

[kozmic]

NYS imposed Drakonian laws re: AR ownership, so what did people do? They crafted modular AR stocks that bypass all illegality and allow NYers enjoy ARs. Let the self righteous do-gooders amend 2A and see how fast we incorporate ourselves into legally defined militias enjoying our amended 2A rights.

Funny you should post this....I replaced the pistol grips on several AR's for some buddies with a "shortened" (2 finger) grip. It looks like an AR. It shoots like an AR (sorta), but is no longer consider an evil black gun by the block heads in Albany. Go figure, 24 bucks and 3 minutes and you make an "illegal" AR into a legal long gun!

I was thinking the exact same thing. I doubt the antis could ever pass through an amendment to 2A, but if they did, "We The People" would find a way to circumvent it. We'd all become card carrying militiamen!!!

 

[steelslaver]

What national guard or military reserve existed when the wrote the constitution? None. Now why would the truly intelligent framers of the constitution write an amendment to protect the right of a nonexistent entity?

The liberal press claims that the framers could not have foreseen repeating arms, semi autos, machine guns, missiles, etc. etc. Yet they believe freedom of speech and the right to privacy should include the internet, computers, cell phone, regular phone, TV broadcast etc etc. Yup, the forefathers knew those were coming.

What the forefathers didn't see was the power of political parties and how they could foist so many knuckle headed candidates on us and convince the vast majority that they have to vote for someone from one of the 2 major parties. Want your rights? Abandon parties.

 

[mc5aw]

The only real issue I have with this potentiality is the use of the word "militia" ... I prefer to be called a "freedom fighter" as opposed to a "militia man".

 

[handejector]

The Constitution can be amended only by what amounts to a supermajority, as it was deemed to be of great importance to make the process difficult.

The Constitution might even be replaced, but doing so would require another Constitutional Convention.

Our Fathers put forth the greatest experiment in human government yet seen on this planet. They gave great thought to the instructions on implementing, securing, and maintaining that system in perpetuity.
God help us- the LAST thing we ever want to see is a Constitutional Convention! Can you imagine entrusting your sacred rights to the voting population and professional politicians of today? You might as well toll the bell, for "America" would be dead, and gone forever from the earth.
The Constitution only needs two things at present and in the future:
Adherence and Enforcement.


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