October 4, 2017--The Second Amendment
No one will ever be able to convince me that the Second Amendment to the Constitution allows someone or anyone such as the Las Vegas mass murderer to possess dozens of high-powered automatic weapons and thousands of rounds of armor piercing ammunition.
In fact, I have read quite a bit about the Founders' intent and history of the amendment that allows citizens to bear arms--especially Michael Waldman's definitive, The Second Amendment: A Biography--and it is obvious even to someone who knows just a little about the early history of our country to conclude otherwise.
The Amendment was exclusively about bearing arms to form a militia. It did not even provide for a right to bear arms for self defense. Perhaps to many it should have, but like it or not it does not. That is a later, much later, 20th century interpretation of the meaning of the Second Amendment.
This was because there was general fear of America, like the then authoritarian European powers, having a centralized, national standing army that could potentially be used to stifle the freedoms of citizens.
But, of course, we now have a standing army, a standing navy, and a standing air force.
The right to bear arms was never intended to preserve the freedom of mass murderers.
At breakfast yesterday morning, John Allan mentioned that on a separate track, the Republican controlled Congress, beholden to the National Rifle Association (note the name of the NRA is not the National Automatic Weapons Association--"Rifle" captures the meaning of their original purpose, an organization for sportsmen and hunters), John mentioned that the House of Representatives was about to pass a bill to make it easier for gun enthusiasts to purchase silencers for their weapons.
I was incredulous. Silencers are for criminals and assassins not law-abiding citizens. But though John is always well informed and accurate in what he says, I was skeptical that this could possibly be true. Even with the Congress we have and Donald Trump in the White House.
But later in the day, I checked and sadly, as usual, John had it right. At most, reports I read, the massacre in Las Vegas will "slow up" its passage.
James Madison and Thomas Jefferson would not be happy.
In fact, I have read quite a bit about the Founders' intent and history of the amendment that allows citizens to bear arms--especially Michael Waldman's definitive, The Second Amendment: A Biography--and it is obvious even to someone who knows just a little about the early history of our country to conclude otherwise.
The Amendment was exclusively about bearing arms to form a militia. It did not even provide for a right to bear arms for self defense. Perhaps to many it should have, but like it or not it does not. That is a later, much later, 20th century interpretation of the meaning of the Second Amendment.
This was because there was general fear of America, like the then authoritarian European powers, having a centralized, national standing army that could potentially be used to stifle the freedoms of citizens.
But, of course, we now have a standing army, a standing navy, and a standing air force.
The right to bear arms was never intended to preserve the freedom of mass murderers.
At breakfast yesterday morning, John Allan mentioned that on a separate track, the Republican controlled Congress, beholden to the National Rifle Association (note the name of the NRA is not the National Automatic Weapons Association--"Rifle" captures the meaning of their original purpose, an organization for sportsmen and hunters), John mentioned that the House of Representatives was about to pass a bill to make it easier for gun enthusiasts to purchase silencers for their weapons.
I was incredulous. Silencers are for criminals and assassins not law-abiding citizens. But though John is always well informed and accurate in what he says, I was skeptical that this could possibly be true. Even with the Congress we have and Donald Trump in the White House.
But later in the day, I checked and sadly, as usual, John had it right. At most, reports I read, the massacre in Las Vegas will "slow up" its passage.
James Madison and Thomas Jefferson would not be happy.
Labels: "The Second Amendment: A Biography", Founders, Las Vegas Shooting, Michael Waldman, National Rifle Association, Republican Congress, Second Amendment
posted by Steven Zwerling at
6:05 AM
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