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Musicmystery -> RE: 2nd amendment (7/22/2012 3:19:26 PM)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: OttersSwim
quote:
ORIGINAL: Musicmystery
quote:
ORIGINAL: OttersSwim
The right to keep and bear arms as written has many interpretations. But the history that follows it, clearly establishes that American citizens have always been well armed and have considered that an essential right. An America without a well armed population, would not be America, it's citizens would not be citizens, they would be subjects.
Fantasies, not interpretations.
The rest of the industrialized world seems to do well as citizen "subjects."
It's a mental deficiency in the American mindset.
I disagree. :)
"The right of the citizens to bear arms in defence of themselves and the State shall not be questioned." -- Pennsylvania Constitution, Article 1, Section 21, which is older than the U.S. Constitution, which was based, in large part, upon it.
“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, (The Papers of Thomas Jefferson, p. 334, 1950)
"The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered, as the palladium of the liberties of the republic; since it offers a strong moral check against usurpation and arbitrary power of the rulers." -- Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story, Commentaries on the Constitution, 1891
"Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state." -- Thomas Jefferson
and lastly:
“Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the people's liberty teeth keystone... the rifle and the pistol are equally indispensable... more than 99% of them by their silence indicate that they are in safe and sane hands. The very atmosphere of firearms everywhere restrains evil interference. When firearms go, all goes, we need them every hour.” -- George Washington, Address to 1st session of Congress
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Even though it may be difficult to interpret the Constitution, it is rarely hard to interpret the -intention- of those who wrote it, as they were men of prolific writing who supported their intentions not just with that single sentence.
All of which is discussing the protection of the states against the Federal government.
This myth of individual freedom as an ideal of the founders is pure fantasy. They greatly mistrusted the masses--it's why we have the electoral college. Until the turn of the 20th century, you weren't even allowed to vote for your U.S. Senators--the Governor appointed them. Some guy sitting on his porch with his military ordinance? Fuck no.
But ready militias regulated by the State to serve as an army for the newly created nation---Yes.
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