Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Ilaine who wrote (94419)	1/9/2005 3:08:20 PM
From: Lane3	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 793804

The founders definitely wanted all able bodied free men to be able to take up arms in times of need of a militia. I agree with you. I thought I was clear on that. You subscribe to the plain language of the constitution. The plain language says that the second amendment was about facilitating a militia. If it were about protecting the right of citizens to own guns for hunting or protection, it would have said so. History tells us that oppressive governments consolidate power by disarming the citizens. I agree, too, that the founders wanted us to be able to protect ourselves in case the government became opressive. Nonetheless, my point is that, were there no second amendment, haqi would still have his gun, that gun ownership is not dependent on the second amendment, as he claims. Do you disagree with that? Our government has regulated teddy bears. And it has regulated guns. But the default is that we are generally free to own what we want whether the constitution specifically protects it or not. We have a gigantic standing military, and use it for purposes the founders would have found abhorrent. Which is one reason I have to laugh when conservatives talk about "original intent." I chuckled when you said that earlier. Maybe the pacifists should press the claim that our military is unconstitutional. That would make a good counterpoint to all this NRA excess. <g>