If you could rewrite the 2nd Amendment, how would you word it?

[Downr@nge]

We all know the words, "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."

We also all know how tough the fight has been to protect this right.

But, if you were given the opportunity to rewrite the 2nd Amendment, how would you word it?

Here's my version. Its not perfectly worded but you will get the basic idea:

PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COMMENT ON MINE AND POST YOUR OWN. And remember, this is just for fun!


It is the right of every individual citizen to purchase, own, maintain, sell, use for self defense, defense of loved ones, defense of their private property, sporting, and hunting, handguns, long guns, assault rifles/weapons. It shall also be the right of every individual citizen to carry on their person concealed, or openly (except where prohibited and in such cases where open carry is prohibited, concealed carry shall NOT be prohibited), their handgun(s). Citizens shall NOT have the right to carry openly or concealed, FULLY automatic weapons or long guns of any type.

The State government SHALL have the right to designate areas in which open carry is NOT allowed. And in such cases where open carry is NOT allowed, concealed carry MUST be allowed.

Individual Businesses and organizations SHALL have the right to determine if open carry is allowed on their premises. All that is necessary to inform Citizens is a clearly visible sign that says in some similar verbage, CCW ONLY ON THESE PREMISES.

States SHALL have the right to determine whether or not ANY type of carry is allowed in state buildings.

College and University Faculty and Student Body SHALL, is individuals, HAVE THE RIGHT TO CARRY CONCEALED ONLY on College or University property.

Public Schools SHALL have the right to ask visitors to reveal if they have any self defense weapons on their person before entering the school and/or any area populated by students.

Citizens shall NOT have the right to own, purchase, sell, or use any nuclear explosives of any kind.

Citizens shall NOT have the right to own, use, or purchase ANY type of explosive "bomb(s)" at anytime (C4, Landmines, etc).

Citizens shall have the right to own Assault Rifles, Sniper Rifles, and fully automatic guns which can be held with both hands.

Citizens shall NOT have the right to own weapons which propel explosive rounds.

Citizens shall have the right to own M203 style grenade launchers that may ONLY BE USED DURING WARTIME WHERE THE WAR MAY OR WILL BE FOUGHT ON UNITED STATES SOIL. Congress shall have the authority to allow or disallow individual citizens the right to use these weapons (M203 style Grenade Launchers) during wartime. Congress shall also have the authority to define where and how individual Citizens may use these weapons (M203 style Grenade Launchers) during wartime.

Citizens SHALL have the right to practice using M203 style Grenade Launchers in specially designated areas during areas of peacetime. During peacetime, individual Citizens shall NOT have the right to purchase 40mm Grenade Launcher rounds EXCEPT at those specially designated areas where their usage is permitted and regulated. Those rounds must be kept and stored at those specially designated areas.

These individual rights are activated when the citizen turns 21 years old. These rights can ONLY be taken away by due process. Individual Citizens MUST take a course on Fire Arms & Ammunition Handling, Safety, and Laws BEFORE owning their first handgun.

After the citizen passes course, they will be given a Firearms ID Card which specifies which types of weapons the citizen has proved he/she knows how to use safely. These Firearms ID Cards shall be renewed every 4 years.

To renew, the individual Citizen must show competence in using every class of weapon he or she owns. The requirements and curriculum of each course on each class of weapon shall NOT be unreasonably difficult.

Proper Handling, Storage, Maintenance, Safety, and shooting of each type of weapon must be shown by individual Citizens wishing to exercise their rights to bear arms.

Children 12 and over may use handguns and long guns with adult supervision for hunting and sporting purposes ONLY. Adults MUST be present at ALL times during usage of said weapons.

These rights will remain and apply to weapons and ammunition of the same or similar category of the day. This means as time goes an and weapons evolve, individual citizens SHALL have these rights apply to the normal weapons of the time.

No branch of Federal, State, Municipal, or City government shall enact any law, prohibition, or ordinance in which the end result diminishes or removes the rights given in this Amendment.

 

[LHRGunslinger]

The right of people to keep, and bear arms shall not be infringed.

 

[731david]

Does'nt matter how you or I would write it, somebody is gonna twist it to say whatever they need it to say...

 

[archigos]

Just add the phrase: "Agents of any government in violation of this amendment shall be found guilty of treason."

 

[Floppy_D]

It is the right of every individual citizen to purchase, own, maintain, sell, use for self defense, defense of loved ones, defense of their private property, sporting, and hunting.

Purchase and own what? Hockey sticks? All that typing and you didn't define what we can own.

The right of people to keep, and bear arms shall not be infringed.

I'd drop the comma, but that's where it's at. Short and sweet, very little to manipulate. When you think about it, "shall not be infringed" is an exceptionally powerful statement with regard to rights, isn't it?

 

[731david]

A+++

 

[Hanzo581]

I would just remove this line.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State

The rest is perfect.

 

[Sky]

Laws and amendments only work if the people and the government both obey them and understand there are consequences if ignored for both.

 

[General Geoff]

I would just remove this line.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State

The rest is perfect.

Don't be so sure.
The PA Constitution has the following wording:
"The right of the people to bear arms in defense of themselves and the state shall not be questioned."

I would consider the existence of the PA UFA (uniform firearms act) to be "questioning" that right; the state supreme court doesn't seem to agree though. Basically, no matter how it's worded, as has been mentioned, it will be twisted to meet the agenda of whomever is in charge of "interpreting" it.

 

[A and O]

As an added sentence.

Any member of the organized or unorganized Militia shall be held innocent in executing any violators of this Amendment.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

The 2A doesn't grant or restrict any rights (looks like your version has a lot of restrictions). It just prohibits the government from infringing upon the people's (God given) right to keep and bear arms.

 

[MikePGS]

I'd just add "No, seriously" to the end.

 

[usmarine0352_2005]

The right of people to keep, and bear arms shall not be infringed.

This.

 

[snubbies]

2A revision

A little wordy. Some will object to the private property and signs as they are doing in the TRU thread.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

I think it is fine just the way it is. I wouldn't change a thing. It's pretty simple, the only confusion is that which is injected to fit someone's narrow political agenda, and that is probably going to happen regardless.

 

[shockwave]

The 2A, as written, is perfectly ambiguous and has thus stood the test of time.

 

[mustang_steve]

Necessary to protect the citizens from all threats and indignities, internal and external, the right to bear arms by the people shall not be infringed, to any degree within the union.

 

[General Geoff]

Congress shall make no law prohibiting, restricting or regulating the acquisition, possession, ownership, or bearing of arms.

The "Congress shall make no law" angle seems to have worked out fairly well for the first amendment thus far (knocks on wood)...

 

[JellyJar]

The Right of Self Preservation, being the supreme law of Nature, the right of the People to keep and bear those arms necessary for self preservation in a free society shall not be infringed by the Federal Government, any State Government or subdivision thereof, except for just cause and then only after the application of due process of law.

However Sky nailed it!!!

 

[ranger335v]

I would add a short sentence; "Supreme Court, we mean what we said and "liberal" politicians keep your stinkin' fingers off."


"The 2A, as written, is perfectly ambiguous ..."

Is "ambiguous" ??? Not as I read it, but it is to liberals!

 

[jon_in_wv]

Being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

The "Well regulated Militia" part seems to be the part that screws everyone up. The fact of the matter is that no matter how its worded, until people (MANY of which post of this forum) stop looking at your second amendment right like its a privilege granted by the Government rather than a right given by our creator and SECURED by our constitution we will always have an uphill battle to fight. It amazes me how many people saw McDonald v. Chicago as a defeat for States rights rather than a victory for OUR rights. The 2nd amendment is treated like its something totally different than our other rights. If governments tried the same restrictions on other rights, even those NOT in the constitution, people cry bloody murder. But if its the second amendment they call it "reasonable" for our safety. We need to stand up for the 2nd amendment just as strongly as everyone else stand up for free speech, religious freedom, etc.....until we do that, the wording of the 2nd amendment is the least of our problems.

BTW:

except for just cause and then only after the application of due process of law.

would you add that to the 1st amendment? Or any other amendment? This would be used and abused to the fullest extent possible by those with "just causes" to disarm us all. This is just the same type of thing I'm talking about. Would you allow the Government to strip you of your free speech for a "just cause" and by "due process of the law"?? I would hope not. They will find plenty of ways to take away our rights without making it easy for them. Remember, "due process" means any process THEY decide is good enough. They can make that as simple and easy as they like, and they will.

 

[Prion]

"Anyone that tries to rewrite this constitution or any amendments found herein shall be found guilty of treason and summarily executed"

 

[COMPNOR]

"Anyone that tries to rewrite this constitution or any amendments found herein shall be found guilty of treason and summarily executed"

A bit of a tyrant are we? The bill of rights is not set in stone. It can and has been changed. Sometimes for the better.

 

[ManBearPig]

I would word in a way that there would be NO WAY the antis could ban anything. Such as:

All individual people have the right to own, keep, bear, and transport any type of handgun, rifle, or shotgun regardless whether it is old, new, or has yet to be invented without needing a license or registering the firarms. All individual people have the right to own, keep, bear, and transport any and all type of ammunition for the firearms they have the right to own without needing a license or registering the ammunition. All handguns, rifles, or shotguns, along with their respective ammunition, may not be taxed out of what the poor can afford.

There, I think that pretty much covers it. If the 2nd Amendment was worded like that, the anti-gun lobby would be out of a job; because they aren't getting around that wording.

 

[Mr. T]

Personally the original is better and is and should be the only one considered.