Presents
Pamphlet #242
Constitutional Protection
There
is an aspect of the gun control issue that has received some attention,
but
which deserves much greater recognition as a priority:
the
reason our founding states demanded (among others) the second amendment.
Remember, these people had just concluded the American Revolution against unrepresentative government... they certainly did not want another unaccountable power structure. This is why we have the constitutional division of government power. In fact, the single most important element of that division is the vote, as installation/removal of leaders is the determining factor in long-term government action, through determination of consensus.
But what if elected leaders do abuse their power (keep in mind the inherent government tendency to extend control) and become unreasonably oppressive?
Enter the First Amendment providing for free speech, even if antagonistic to government dictate.
And if free speech clarifies a consensus that government is violating the Constitution, the Second Amendment provides constitutional assurance that citizenry is legally allowed the means to forcibly defend itself from repressive government. This does not mean citizens may keep weapons of impersonal mass destruction (largely unknown in 1789). It does mean it is entirely appropriate for citizens to maintain capability of defense against anti-personnel technology employed unconstitutionally, and, if anything, the degree should favor the citizenry.
The Second Amendment is the essence of our Constitutional Republic. "people power." Without it, you have no assured right to command respect from an over-lawed overlord.