Is the Second Amendment Even Still Real?

"Every constitution, then, and every law, naturally expires at the end of 19 years. If it be enforced longer, it is an act of force and not of right." (Thomas Jefferson in a letter to James Madison September 6, 1789)

(CALGARY, Alberta) - I recommend that all members of the NRA and the Gun Owners of America be encouraged to shoot themselves and each other in their feet.

It is unusual for gun rights to be included in a constitution. In an historical study of constitutions, only 15 constitutions (in nine countries) had ever included an explicit right to bear arms. Almost all of these constitutions were in Latin America, and most were from the 1800s. Only three countries—Guatemala, Mexico and the United States—have a constitutional right to arms. Of the 15, the U.S. is the only one that does not explicitly include a restrictive condition.

"The 2nd amendment was passed in 1791 and was in reference to 'A well regulated Militia'. Arms in that time period consisted of powder/ball muskets.

"Its current and historical interpretation by the US courts and pro-gun interest is incredibly bizarre and irrational. Like the discussion of most if not all 'social issues'in this country, non-sense makes sense. We are a bright beacon of ignorance and hypocrisy to the rest of the world."

How egregiously embarrassing for Asa Hutchinson to mouth the NRA platitudes and insanities of Wayne LaPierre about arming guards in public schools! This isn't how he'll be elected Arkansas's Governator. How long will Americans swallow the bumf and codswallop and blatherskite dished out by the dishonourable National Rifle Association? Outrageous and shameful and mightily depressing that strict gun control legislation has not been enacted so long after the massacre in Newtown, Connecticut. How long will murder, massacre and bloody unnecessary wars be condoned by the American public? We are the world's laughingstock.

“As somebody whose family was decimated by the Nazis and their armed thugs, this appears no longer to be the same country that fought the Axis in 1941-45. The GOP is hastening to copy them in their quest for power and their backers in their greed.”

"With the Tea Party talking like the storm troopers of old, this is a fearsome development. Anyone who knows history and remembers its lessons remembers that the Storm Troopers stirred up disorder for their sponsors, the National Socialists, before the 1932 elections resulted in a large share of the legislative seats (but NOT a numerical majority). They worked like gangsters in early '30's Warner Brothers films: they come in, break up a place, and then sell "protection." This is exactly the same thing. Americans, beware.

"The NRA prefers a true police state over any rational restrictions on background checks, semi-automatic weapons or bullet magazines. One looks at North Korea or Nazi Germany and wonders: how did it get this way? An insane, self-aggrandizing fascist terrorist like Wayne La Pierre led them there."

Here's something I'm surprised no one has suggested. The gun nuts are, overall, a minority in America. If ten or fifteen million reasonable, sensible Americans joined the NRA, they would outnumber the wackos and could, democratically, change the NRA into a positive organization. Just a thought.

Daniel Johnson is a born and raised Calgarian. He is currently working on a book The Occupy Wall Street User Manual which is scheduled for publication in spring 2013 by Polymath Press In 1990 he published his first (and so far, only) book: Practical History: A guide to Will and Ariel Durant’s “The Story of Civilization” (Polymath Press, Calgary) Newly appointed as the Deputy Executive Editor in August 2011, he has been writing exclusively for Salem-News.com since March 2009 and, as of summer 2012, has published more than 210 stories. View articles written by Daniel Johnson

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Anonymous April 17, 2013 4:34 pm (Pacific time)

The structure of our government is second to none, and will remain so long after all other governments fade into oblivion. What has happened is that we have a large percentage of voters who have been "hustled." This unfortunate situation will turn around, and today's gun votes in the senate clearly acknowledges that. God Bless America and the 300 million plus firearms that we have. May the manufactures of these tools, as well as ammo producers, dial it up so we are just oozing guns and bullets. Well off to the range to blast away. Poor Diane Feinstein and Bloomberg, Biden, Obama, etc. ...you lost and America won today. We are now even more vigilant and organizations against you are ramping up. Today was a good day for freedom.

LOL Do you write for some of the big comedians like Limbaugh or O'Reilly, perhaps?

El Nory April 16, 2013 11:53 am (Pacific time)

Daniel, one need not be a "gun nut" to see the incredible danger in disarming oneself to an untrustworthy government. It is in fact quite foolish to relegate yourself to being a victim and hope others will protect you.

Once we figure out who planted the nanothermite in the THREE Wolrd Trade Centers then we can talk about gun control.

"Untrustworthy government"? A regular refrain I see in comments to my stories is the U.S. has the best government in the world, in fact, the cosmos itself. An earlier commenter on this story wrote: "The constitutions of other countries have little or no meaning to informed Americans." Americans have nothing to learn from anyone else. LOL

Ralph E. Stone April 16, 2013 6:55 am (Pacific time)

Anonymous, you obviously have no idea what the Second Amendment is or what the current pending gun control legislation is all about. None of the pending legislation will take guns away from citizens as that would run afoul of the Second Amendment. I take it from your comment, you go out in public packing a gun. If you do, I would be afraid you'd shoot an innocent bystander or shoot yourself in the foot. By the way, why don't you sign your name to your comments? Are you afraid to be identified?

Anonymous April 14, 2013 1:46 pm (Pacific time)

Ralph how about all democrats in congress vote to dissolve the 2nd Amendment? Of course we have these morons from out of the country who have no idea how are government works. So you live near Golden State Park Ralph, you feel safe there at night walking in the park? How about walking around the inner cities? Yeah, we are not going to give up our firearms no matter what congress attempts to do now or in the future, but hey Ralph, you go live among the criminals who ignore the laws currently and never will follow them..

Ralph E. Stone April 12, 2013 12:15 pm (Pacific time)

While the NRA has much to answer for in regards to its opposition to most gun control legislation, we should be pointing our fingers at the cowardly members of the Senate and House who cower before the NRA instead of doing what's best for America. Who needs an assault weapon, anyway? Perhaps in the next election, we should find out who the NRA is supporting and opposing and vote accordingly.

Anonymous April 11, 2013 3:51 pm (Pacific time)

"It is unusual for gun rights to be included in a constitution." It's in the Bill of Rights. Powder and muskets! Weapons evolve over time, and no government should have more power than those they work for. I want a nuke. Anyway this is an unfortunate distraction while North Korea and other belligerents soil the world, and others argue for the rights of sodomites, etc. . The global instability and incompetent leadership provides a clear need for individual firearm ownership. The Founders were exceptional people who no doubt understood intelligent design, and of course, EVIL.

Anonymous April 11, 2013 1:20 pm (Pacific time)

In my opinion real "progressives" do all they can to enlarge their knowledge/information base to help enhance their ability to improve their environment, for both others and themselves. I am a progressive in that regard. This pursuit of new information can often alter their opinions on different matters. Then there are those who ignore any information that can enhance their understanding of different matters. They will always continue to live in a "narrow information range." The American Constitution and our Bill of Rights exist for a reason. This form of government has allowed us to become what we are. Those who dislike us for our success have no impact. May I suggest the article writer review a competent biography on not just Jefferson, but all the Founders, coupled with their personal papers. Of course those who have not had a comprehensive American upbringing with an ongoing learning process of our rich and successful history will simply pick out things that support their misunderstanding. I see that the firearm owners in Canada ignored the registration process, or at least enough did, that it was discontinued. Many of our universities offer doctorate degrees in Early American History, and even PHD's will have different interpretations, and that's why we seek legal guidance from our congress/state legislatures and our Judiciary. Law of the land is the 2nd Amendment is for individual firearm ownership. I imagine future courts may alter that, but the American people will ignore any ruling that calls for confiscation. Because what would be the purpose? Our firearm violence rate is going down, and would go down further when current laws are enforced. Other countries, well, their laws are their business. Though I say let's follow Mexico's immigration/voting policies. Check those out. Of course they have strict gun laws, and millions have come here and have very high crime rates. Is Obama going to protect us from them?

Anonymous April 11, 2013 9:16 am (Pacific time)

The constitutions of other countries have little or no meaning to informed Americans. So how did Canada do with their registration process of guns? Americans who own firearms (over 300 million estimated firearms out there) dwarf the membership of the NRA and GOA. Keep in mind that over 70 million (MILLION) background checks for firearm purchases have been made since Obama was elected in 2008. Our firearm murder rate is half of what it was 30 years ago (more people now and millions more guns). In Chicago over 45,000 were rejected via background checks, but the Obama feds only prosecuted 15. So what's going on here? Then if the background check is for an individual, why do they need the type of weapon and serial number of the firearm if they do not keep a registration record. It is a crime for that record to be made as per congressional law. This is a big reason why people do not trust the government. We also know that criminals are not going to follow the law. Thus when the informed citizen realizes there are literally millions of people who do not follow the law, how do they protect themselves? I guess we could take the advice of those who want to disarm us? Yeah, like that is going to happen.

By your definition, America is a criminal nation. After all, it's the only developed nation where citizens feel under threat as a part of their birthright so need guns.

As southern Republican Zell Miller said a few days ago: "I have more guns than I need, but not as many as I want." Something disturbing about this mindset. Like an alcoholic: One gun is too many, 100 guns is not enough.

anonymous April 11, 2013 7:41 am (Pacific time)

see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jWRyLltLSU

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Is the Second Amendment Even Still Real?

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