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"Government is not reason. It is not eloquence. It is a force, like fire: a dangerous servant and a terrible master". — George Washington
Call me old fashioned. I actually think the Constitution means what it says, and that we fought a war for a limited government. "Savas, that is such an antiquated idea. Move on, already." Silly me.
My friends, we are ALL in the First Amendment business. As a publisher, I am more directly than you, perhaps, but as readers of freely produced literature, as citizens of a republic, you are, too. I have also lived long enough, read enough history, and have taught enough history (and Constitutional Law) to know that the Second Amendment guarantees all the others. This I KNOW, despite uneducated fools who try to tell us differently. If you can strip away one Amendment with legislative action (rather than by the Amendment process, as directed in the Constitution), can you not do so with all the others?
Read these quotes below--all of them--and then read this article in the American Thinker: More Gun Control Introduced in Congress
In the actual bill you will read, it requires upon penalty of jail that you have to report to the Attorney General. Well, our new AG Eric Holder is also on record as having said he does not believe the Second Amendment guarantees the right of individual gun ownership. That's nice of him. And he also filed a brief with the Supreme court in the recent 5-4 landmark D.C. vs. Heller case (Holder lost because there were five sane jurists left.)
No one should be allowed to eviscerate our fundamental rights: Not Democrats and not Republicans. But tyrants of both stripes occasionally try to do so.
A little shocked, are you? Ah. Go back to sleep now. There are lattes on every corner and American Idol is on TV later.
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"Government is not reason. It is not eloquence. It is a force, like fire: a dangerous servant and a terrible master". — George Washington
"God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it." — Daniel Webster
The Constitution of the United States of America
BILL OF RIGHTS
2nd Amendment:
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.
"I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
— George Mason, Co-author of the Second Amendment during Virginia's Convention to Ratify the Constitution, 1788
Those who created the U.S. Constitution's BILL OF RIGHTS only placed ONE of the 10 Amendments in the Bill of Rights above the Second Amendment:
The Second Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Without the SECOND Amendment, there is nothing to prevent a coercive state from violating the FIRST Amendment.
During the debates on the adoption of the Constitution in 1789, its opponents repeatedly charged that the Constitution as drafted would open the way to tyranny by the central state. Fresh in their minds was the memory of the British violation of civil rights before and during the Revolution. They demanded a "bill of rights" that would spell out the immunities of individual citizens. Several state conventions in their formal ratification of the Constitution asked for such amendments; others ratified the Constitution with the understanding that the amendments would be offered.
"A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves …"
— Richard Henry Lee, writing in Letters from the Federal Farmer to the Republic,
Letter XVIII, May, 1788.
"The people are not to be disarmed of their weapons. They are left in full possession of them." — Zachariah Johnson, Elliot's Debates, vol. 3 "The Debates in the Several State Conventions on the Adoption of the Federal Constitution."
"… the people are confirmed by the next article in their right to keep and bear their private arms" — Philadelphia Federal Gazette, June 18, 1789, Pg. 2, Col. 2
Article on the Bill of Rights
"And that the said Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the Press, or the rights of Conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms; …"
— Samuel Adams, quoted in the Philadelphia Independent Gazetteer,
August 20, 1789, "Propositions submitted to the Convention of this State"
"Firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence … from the hour the Pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurences and tendencies prove that to ensure peace security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable …
the very atmosphere of firearms anywhere restrains evil interference — they deserve a place of honor with all that's good."
— George Washington, our first President of the United States
"The supposed quietude of a good man allures the ruffian; while on the other hand arms, like laws, discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as property. The same balance would be preserved were all the world destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside … Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them."
— Thomas Paine
"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
— Richard Henry Lee, American Statesman, 1788
"The great object is that every man be armed," and "Everyone who is able may have a gun." — Patrick Henry, American Patriot
"Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation, that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the difference between having our arms in possession and under our direction and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands
can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?" — Patrick Henry, American Patriot
"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that … it is their right and duty to be at all times armed; … "
— Thomas Jefferson, etter to Justice John Cartwright, June 5, 1824. ME 16:45.
"The best we can help for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed." — Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Papers at 184-8
"Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not."
— Thomas Jefferson, Third President of the United States
"The strongest reason for people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is,
as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."
— Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334 (C.J.Boyd, Ed., 1950)
The above individuals were the very ones instrumental in CREATING our country. We should heed their words.
6 comments:
While Congress and the public have been obsessed with the 'Spendulus Bill', three things have occurred that should make every gun owner fearful. The items are H.R. 45 introduction, confirmation of Eric Holder as Attorney General and the government medical records data base that is mandated in the stimulus bill. Let me explain. Don't lose your second amendment gun rights.
The pro/con gun argument never seems to run out of ammo. When the Constitution was written, wasn't slavery legal?
Who let up and let that one get away? :-)
K
Somehow I think that readers of this blog are smart enough to understand the fundamental difference between an individual liberty set out in the Bill of Rights as an amendment, and slavery (which was referenced in the main body in Article 1, Section 2) . . . that the latter was abolished through the difficult amendment process, and not by the stroke of a pen based upon the result of an election.
Sometimes it is better to keep one's mouth closed, so as not to remove all doubt.
--tps
Gun advocates cling to the Constitution the way UFOlogists tout Roswell. C'mon, the Second Amendment came at a time of intense compromise more than 200 years ago.
So all guns should be rounded up by the government? Not at all. Collectors, responsible hunters and sports people MUST be allowed to keep their weapons. But felons, children, the mentally ill, gangs and drug dealers?
Getting 'guns off the street' will NOT require new legislation, but strict enforcement of laws already on the books.
Remember 'Shoot yourself in the foot'? Thanks to Plaxico Burris, aim for the thigh.
K
Mr. Savas. I think being a publisher (pamphleteer?) is a worthy endeavor, and the essence of free speech, the bedrock of our liberties. Cutting the guts from one of the Bill of Rights, or even thinking of doing so--chills me to the bone.
According to our Founders, our rights came from God. There is a reason for that line of thought: that means our rights come from a power higher than Government--which means Government cannot take away those rights. Even my atheist friends who think about it appreciate that nugget of genius.
Keep up the great work.
Patrick
I hear that a newspaper in Memphis, Tenn. decided to run a web-facing database of every person who has a conceal carry permit in the state. The justification? Well it boils down to what they feel is in the best interests of the community. "Once a concealed weapon is pulled out at a shopping center, a hospital or a business, what happens next with that gun becomes a matter of public concern to everyone."
One of the Atlanta radio heads took that to the next logical point - Anyone infected with a communicable disease should also be listed on a public facing database.
I'd carry it one step further. All persons who currently or ever have owed back taxes should be listed on a public facing list. That way we can shorten the wait time on cabinet appointees....
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