The argument
that the Second Amendment was to allow citizens to have guns to protect
themselves against their own government is blatantly false.
I know this
bothers some gun supporters that have heard this from the NRA and used this as
their argument for no gun laws. But, in 1791 when the Amendment was past,
America did not have a standing army and the intent was to guarantee citizens
could own guns so in time of crisis a militia could be quickly raised – not armed
for an insurrection against the government.
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.
In 1792 the
Congress went one step further, passing an act requiring all male citizens to
arm themselves in order to be able to quickly raise a militia:
Each and every free able-bodied white
male citizen of the respective States, resident therein, who is or shall be of
age of eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years (except as is
herein after excepted) shall severally and respectively be enrolled in the
militia… every citizen so enrolled and notified, shall, within six months
thereafter, provide himself with a good musket or flrelock, and sufficient
bayonet and belt, two spare flints, and a knapsack, a pouch with a box therein
to contain not less than twenty-four cartridges, suited to the bore of his
musket or firelock, each cartridge to contain a proper quantity of powder and
ball: or with a good rifle, knapsack ,shot-pouch and powder-horn, twenty balls
suited to the bore of his rifle, and a quarter of a pound of powder; and shall
appear, so armed, accoutered and provided, when called out to exercise, or into
service, except, that when called out on company days to exercise only, he may
appear without a knapsack.
Today we
have a standing army and the requirement for all citizens to arm is not
necessary – neither is the argument that we must arm ourselves so we can
overthrow our own government.
We fought a
Civil War against the idea of anarchy – the point should be well
established.
The need to
line up at Burger King with assault rifles and pistols defies common sense and
places the general public in danger.
The Ol’Buzzard
