In this columnist's opinion, "[T]he right to keep and bear arms is a fiction."

[Doug S]

It comes as no surprise that to me that an individual in today's political climate might hold such an ignorant view. The anti-gun (anti-freedom) propaganda has been around long enough now that a segment of our population (especially the 30 something & under) often hold to such views. Having been exposed to these new ideological beliefs long enough, many know nothing else. After all it would seem to reason (to the simple minded) that less guns would equal less crime, right). Also (unfortunately) our public schools overcome with political correctness, no longer teach American History & Civics as they once did. We are no longer taught that our country is unique (& something to be proud of) in its individual & economic freedoms. Instead we are told that our system discriminates against those less fortunate than we. This new ideology (straight out of the Communist Manifesto) teaches that we should all live in the same type of homes, and allow the government to make our choices for us. Everyone should labor be for the benefit of someone less fortunate & that we can never be forgiven for the sins of our past. I've strayed a bit from my intended purpose in posting, but I'm find this new age ignorance appalling. It is something out of a bad science fiction movie. And unfortunately our youth so inclined continue to march along believing that their sexuality & feelings of self-worth are more important than the freedoms that their forefathers fought & bled for. The very freedoms which allow the form of self-expression. But unfortunately Political Correctness does not seem to be very equal either, what is good for the goose doesn't seem to be acceptable for the gander. We you express views contrary to the mainstream, it is called radical. We you desire to own something that they PC's deem unnecessary or evil they attempt to pass laws against our freedoms. They will decide what is acceptable for everyone else. Only they have the freedom & the intellectual ability to choose what is good & right. No God, No Country, No Freedom, but boy they feel good about themselves & their state of higher enlightenment. I hope I've made myself clear in this post. I didn't intend to preach, it just bothers me to see our freedoms so dearly bought eroded by people who think know better. Political correctness & real freedom of expression/thought are a contradiction in terms.

 

[MagKnightX]

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.

Okay, fine. Even if, with the same wording that makes the other amendments individual rights here only extends to the militia, then still:

According to Title 10, Subtitle A, Part 1, Chapter 13, Section 311:

(a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.
(b) The classes of the militia are -
(1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Naval Militia; and
(2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia.

So, everybody 17 to 45 has a constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms, ASSUMING THAT THE SECOND AMENDMENT APPLIES ONLY TO THE MILITIA. However. It DOES say, "the right of the PEOPLE to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

 

[Travis McGee]

His "legal opinion" is an Rx for a CW.

 

[MAKOwner]

I have absolutely no respect for anyone who can read the 2nd Amendment and seriously sit there and dream up these bullsh*t ways for it to mean anything other than what it obviously does and try to pass that off as the educated "duh, what's wrong with you peasants" reading of it. I mean for crying out loud, it is not confusing, it is not cryptic. ***!?! It takes a real freakin idiot to garble the thing that badly... How some supposedly smart, educated people can be completely thrown off by the mention of the Militia, and sit there justifying how it only covers the Militia (while ignoring what the militia is defined as...) peddling some "collective right" BS that is obviously pulled out of their a$$es, and then go on to ignore "the right of the people" is just incredible. They're either incredibly biased or just plain freakin' stupid, no other explanations really cover what it would take to reach these decisions...