imported post
IMO, the short answer is yes.
Long answer:
The actual issue in question here is Self-Defense, which is not only a civil right but also an "in/unalienable" right given to us by God (whether you believe in God or not doesn't matter...won't argue that with you) to ALL living things, including the human race...a sort of "instinct of self-preservation" put into us, if you will.
Doesn't get any more "imbued" than that, does it, it's so ingrained in every living creature.
No laws of man can deny or take away the right of Self-Defense (and I argue the defense also OF OTHERS)...the law can only affirm said right. Anything other than that is illegal and to be disregarded. And no "in/unalienable" right comes from a piece of paper written by lawmakers, even if by our Founding Fathers.
The law is not our master and we are its slaves, rather, the law is our servant. The "creator" is always greater than the "created." Any law that puts one in harm's way is illegal/bad/in error because laws are NEVER intended to harm.
Nowadays, at our current level of technology -- and since relatively weak humans don't have fangs, claws, great strength as many animals do, nor are 99.99% of us highly-trained empty-hand "unarmed" fighters (although many of THEM carry weapons, too) -- we have to make up for our physical weaknesses by using technology (TOOLS). In the stone age, it would have been tools like clubs/spears to use against animal or human predators. Today, current technology means firearms since it's the best most-advanced self-protection tool we have.
Consequently, denying one the use of firearms -- the tools which are needed to EXERCISE our right of Self-Defense -- equates to DENYING said right and that in itself is highly illegal! If you are unable to exercise a right, you don't have it.
Also illegal is the selling/renting ANY of our rights. Particularly, I'm talking about the highly-illegal CC permit system where one puts money down (pay initial license/course fees) to receive "permission" to exercise a right, then is forced to "lease" said right (via renewal fees) in order to keep it. Yes, this CC permit system has been around for many decades now, true, but I say it's also been ILLEGAL for just as long!
As stated, rights do not need permission to exercise NOR are they to be rented/sold/leased.
For one example, if the old "Poll Tax" (making people PAY to exercise their civil right to VOTE) was found to be illegal, then how can a much more serious right -- that of self-preservation itself (voting and ALL other rights are moot if you are dead) -- LEGALLY be sold/rented/leased as it is today?
It can't.
So IMO, indirectly, YES, the possession AND bearing (carrying, as per the 2nd Amendment, since that's what theverb "bear" means) of firearms is at the VERY LEAST a civil right because it allows the exercise of our right of Self-Defense, but it's even more because it comes from a "higher law" beyond the scope of man.
-- John D.