There is a great focus on guns after the many tragedies of recent time, but I see it differently where there is too much emphasis on criminality and gun control. There is a failure in reading the Second Amendment with an understanding of the framers’ intent. This amendment was written to secure the loyalty and confidence of the individual states, and its population, and what greater trust and confidence can there be but to allow the possession and ownership of guns (muskets of the time)?
The first idea of the Second Amendment speaks to “a [A] well regulated Militia,” and what does that mean? And the second idea speaks “to the security of a free State,” and then on to the right of possession. From this we have to conclude that all 50 states have the fundamental responsibility and authority to require each and every citizen to be qualified through training to include integrity, competence and discipline to “keep and bear Arms.” So, let it be! Our constitutional framers carefully worded this amendment so as not to encourage overt anger and frustration against the government or other persons, and we have little tolerance for such. Here I’m thinking of the Davidians at Waco (1993).We all need to draw comfort from knowing that those who keep and bear arms are trained and competent to do so. This will save lives.
Charles Forsberg
N. Sutton