Quote:
Originally Posted by golfing eagles
Wrong and wrong. That's NOT what the 2nd amendment states or means. At the time it was written, we did not have a standing army. "Militias" were raised when a call went out for volunteers, many of whom were just farmers and frontiersman. That "militia" did not have an arsenal to hand out guns, the volunteers had to bring their own. Therefore, INDIVIDUALS were guaranteed the right to "bear arms", not just "state militiamen". In 1787, unless you were a city dweller, a gun was a necessity---hunting for food, protection against whomever, etc. Even 100 years later in the "wild west", the 2 most heinous crimes (punishable by hanging) were horse theft and gun theft, because without either you had a very short life expectancy. As Obi Wan Kenobi siad to Anikan Skywalker in Star Wars episode 2 after retrieving his light saber---"This weapon is your life"
Full disclosure----I've never even held a gun in my hand.
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Interesting full disclosure........not even a semi-auto 9 iron? Full disclosure I have never held a light saber.
........Interesting History lesson. As to the "Wild West"........I remember reading that many people did not even carry a gun. And there was even a FAMOUS sheriff that did not carry a gun.
.........As to the 2nd Amendment - There was a Constitution expert on TV that said that the 2nd was PURPOSELY written in an ambiguous manner so as to please BOTH the Federalists and the States Rights types. Like a lot of things, when you try to please 2 opposing factions you just end up with an ambiguous, watered-down statement, which can have different interpretations.
..........I really don't care too much about "nit-picking" the meaning of the 2nd amendment (no mention of INDIVIDUAL). I only discussed it because so many here bring it up like GOD chiseled it out of stone.
..........The NRA and the Gun makers have a vested interest in interpreting the 2nd amendment to suit themselves - because big, GIANT profits and sums of money are involved. They use America's fascination with the rugged individualism and machismo of the wild west days to create a propaganda-like need for their high-profit wares.
............I feel that even the whole Constitution is a VERY old document that may NOT be relevant today.
............I feel that the Supreme Court represents 1/3 of the power of the US Government and is held in the hands of 9 UNELECTED members the get appointed for a LIFETIME (I disagree) based on WHO DIED and WHEN (during which Parties control). Seems like a STUPID system to me!