Friday, January 11, 2013

Original Intent

Sanity must prevail, but the 2nd Amendment has a history that the left doesn't want to acknowledge.

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

New Mexico Gun law and State Constitutional provisions can be found here. (BTW, I don't know anything about the Southern New Mexico Militia, so don't take this as a blessing of the site owners).

No right is absolute, and although the Founders, as recorded in such places as the Federalist Papers, argued that "a well regulated militia" was inexorably tied into the people's individual right to bear arms, that doesn't mean they thought every farmer should have a twelve pounder double-shotted with grape and canister aimed at the front porch. Neither does it mean we should all be carrying around enough firepower to fight a land war in Afghanistan. One has to balance individual rights with the public safety. Yes, finding that balance is a real chore and requires trust, individual responsibility, and logic. The more freedom one has, the more responsibilities one shoulders for the public good.

Some useful quotes from the old white farts that go to Heller vs DC.

"If circumstances should at any time oblige the government to form an
army of any magnitude, that army can never be formidable to the
liberties of the people while there is a large body of citizens, little,
if at all, inferior to them in discipline and the use of arms, who
stand ready to defend their own rights and those of their
fellow-citizens." - Alexander Hamilton

"Before a standing army can rule the people must be disarmed; as they are
in almost every kingdom in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot
enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people
are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops
that can be, on any pretence, raised in the United States." - Noah Webster

"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who
approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but
downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably
ruined." - Patrick Henry

"Be never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of
the press, or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people of the
United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms..." - Samuel Adams

"And what country can preserve it's liberties if their rulers are not
warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of
resistance? Let them take arms." - Thomas Jefferson

Speaking of sanity, or the lack thereof. Perhaps the problem is not so much the availability of guns, but the unavailability of prudence, common sense, and self-restraint. For example: