Amendment Number Two

I do try to stay away from politics in this here blog thing, but it's time for me to weigh in on this subject, so here goes.

In order that the powers of the new federal government of the United States not be misconstrued or abused, the Congress passed and sent to the states for ratification ten amendments to the Constitution on March 4, 1789.  Their purpose was to spell out specifically certain rights that were dear to the hearts of those who had fought to free the North American colonies from British rule.  It came to be known as the Bill of Rights, and its ten provisions have been staunchly defended ever since, especially the second one, which goes like this:

Amendment II
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.

The other nine amendments simply state what is guaranteed without any explanation.  For example, we are entitled to protection from unreasonable searches and seizures, although there is nothing to explain what is to be considered unreasonable or why it is prohibited.  We are also protected against cruel and unusual punishment, but again, what exactly is cruel is not specified, nor is any reason given for this protection.

The first amendment grants us what may be considered the hallmark of liberty for a free society, but there is no statement that explains why we are allowed to assemble peaceably or to petition the government for redress of grievances.  We just are.  And we are promised freedom of religion, and of speech, and of the press.  Period.  No reason given.

We must conclude that the drafters of these amendments assumed that the reasoning behind these protections was obvious and could be taken for granted.  Except in that one instance, the second amendment, which provides a specific reason for its inclusion.

And it is a very good reason that the right of the people to keep and bear arms is guaranteed.  Not because people need to be able to shoot animals for food, although lots of people did in 1789, nor to protect themselves and their homes from attack by angry Indians, something that might well happen in those days.  No, people may keep and bear arms because a well-regulated militia is necessary to the security of a free state. 

We have a well-regulated militia.  It's called the National Guard, and the kinds of weapons National Guard soldiers need to ensure our security are not the sort anybody needs to have in order to kill an animal for food.  And I think the last Indian scalping raid was a long, long time ago.

It's time to give up the guns.  They can keep their animal-shooting rifles, but it's time to give up all military-type weapons and all hand guns, for the security of a free state, a free movie theater, a free college campus, a free shopping mall, and a free first-grade school room.