Lthrnck wrote:
JB-Indiana,
I agree with your comments on being careful what we put in print. It can come back to haunt you.
I totally disagree with your thoughts on OC/CC in the constitution, how can you bear arms if you can't carry them. CC is very common today, last estimates are 6 to 8 million people have CCW permits/licenses in this country.
The OC movement is expanding rapidly, so I don't know where you got you idea at, but I would rethink it.
Right. And perhaps a little prime in basic English is needed here.
The amendment contains the comma-separated clause, "the right of the people to keep and bear arms". This little phrase accomplishes several tasks. First it recognizes a preexisting right. If this were not the case, the Founders may have said, "the people shall have the right...". But we can clearly see that this is not what it says at all.
Also, it qualifies the first clause which speaks about a well-regulated militia. In order for a militia to exist, the right spoken about in the second clause is an absolute must.
Lastly, the phrase, "keep and bear arms" contains two verbs joined by a conjunction. This means they are mutually inclusive. In order to be able to bear arms, you must also be able to keep them and visa versa.
And finally there is the word regulated. At the time the Bill of Rights was written, this meant "to keep and make regular". It did not refer to "control" or to "drill". In other words, the idea the Founders had was that every man be armed and therefore available for service when the need arose.
