Lose the fear

Editor:



Second Amendment: “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.”

Power is vested in the state. Rights are vested in the individual. Denton May’s heart is in the right place but his cultural reference point is 236 years off.

“Very likely, (the creators of our constitution) would have limited the use of such weapons to the military.” (May)

He is perhaps unaware that the USA had no standing army at the time, and that the 13 colonies had only 31 ships comprising the Continental Navy. It was truly the people vs. England. Their arms were mainly personal hunting rifles. The cannon and battle ships were often privately owned and outfitted by wealthy individual merchants.

The original intent of the Second Amendment was:

1) To save on the expense of national security: “None but an armed nation can dispense with a standing army.” (Thomas Jefferson)

2) To defend against tyranny: “Government is not reason; it is not eloquence. It is force. And force, like fire, is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.” (G. Washington)

3) To secure your home and belongings: “The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun.” (Patrick Henry)

I think that keeping military assault weapons out of the hands of minors and maniacs, without infringing on the right of the individual to keep and bear arms, is a good idea. We are going to figure this out sooner if we stop the treadmill discussions. There is an answer. We just don’t have it yet.

Here is a start: Don’t be a gun-nut where your gun collections value is worth more than your cars. Gun control advocates should stop saying being armed invites attacks.

I know this much. Fear makes people own guns, and fear makes people want to take them away. Lose the fear.



Richard M. Feit

Cortez

Via email