What do YOU think the Second Amendment means?

[Trent]

Amen! but will disagree on taking 20 years till you need a wheel barrow. It's closer than you think.

I'm an optimist, what can I say.

 

[BulletArc47]

It's a law for the common-man; to protect him/her from government tyranny, and predatory men; it's also a warming bell. I guarantee if the 2nd amendment goes then the entire Bill of Rights, and the Constitution will soon follow.

 

[jim243]

This is a question for Consitutional scholars. There is no question as to the language of the 2nd amendment, but much questioning of the intent of those that wrote it.

When it was adopted there was no Federal Government, but a collection of individual governments that represented the people within their boundries, that is why we are called the "United States of America". There was no permanent "standing army" but a collection of individual milita that provided for their communities self-defense.

The question of that time was what was the powers of the federal government and what where the powers of the people living within each individual State. To make things more uniform throughout the States the federal consitution was seen as a unbrela to cover all the States in the Union with the same rights and laws. And these rights and freedoms were extended over all the citizens of the whole country which is still made up of individual States, just 50 of them instead of 13.

It was and is seen that during a time of crisis the "people" (We the people of these United States) do have the right to "keep and bare arms" for the protection of our liberties and freedoms. To what extent is the question. I am sure that if you can afford one, a tank or jet fighter is allowable as long as it does not become a threat or danger to your neighbors. (And yes, they are legal to own, just too expensive for most people.)

So there we stand, this has been debated for the last 200 years and will be so for the next 200 years or so.

Jim

 

[beatledog7]

This is a question for Consitutional scholars.

I disagree. The document starts out in really big letters, "We the People," not "we the lawyers and professors."

 

[jim243]

The Constitution of the United States: A Transcription

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Let's keep it that way.

Jim