Monday, June 16, 1997 11:54 AM
A lot of people are under the impression that the Second Amendment is
defunct, that there no longer exists a need for the average citizen to own
or carry a gun. "That's what police are for", they say, "and if you're
talking about defense against invasion, well that's what the US Army is
for." I won't even get into the effectiveness of the police here. My
response to this kind of statement is that you really ought to get a
better understanding of the 2nd Amendment and what our founding fathers
had in mind when they created it:
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: first, a right to
life, secondly to liberty, thirdly to property; together with the right to
defend them in the best manner they can." - Samuel Adams
"Arms in the hands of the citizens may be used at individual discretion
for the defense of the country, the overthrow of tyranny or private
self-defense." - John Adams
"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and
bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in
government." - Thomas Jefferson
"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who
approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but
downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined. The
great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a
gun." - Patrick Henry
You see, the colonists of infant America had just overthrown a tyrannical
government; they had no desire to create another one. The Second
Amendment was an attempt to prevent it from happening here, to, not just
symbolically, but literally put the power in the hands of the people. Our
founding fathers were so wary of government, they did not even trust the
one they themselves were creating!
So to say that the people have no need to bear arms because we have police
and a standing army just reaffirms the true purpose of the Second
Amendment. I have the highest respect for our police and military units,
but it is because the government controls these forces that we should
remain wary.
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