Tuesday, June 16, 2020

How liberal is your Second Amendment Perspective?

The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution reads: "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."
The most liberal interpretation of this amendment totally ignores the "well regulated Militia" clause. The vast majority of gun owners in this country are not part of anything that is well regulated and not are part of any form of militia. We have allowed anyone who wants one to buy a military grade weapon and parade around with it openly. The liberal interpretation is focused on "shall not be infringed".
Oddly, conservatives have embraced this liberal perspective. 
My conservative perspective is that we need to look very carefully at the "well regulated Militia" part of this amendment. The right of the people needs to be balanced in a more conservative interpretation. It's a matter of logic and common sense.
We cannot have everyone carrying guns and feel assured that everyone is capable of handling the responsibility. We need some common sense measures. That's the reason for the "well regulated Militia" clause. Certainly, there was expectation of some form of common sense regulation. 
Do you really want EVERY US citizen to have the right? Imagine situations where those "others" could have shown up with AR-15's. Would you argue that their rights should "not be infinged"? Really?
What if "they" take over your state capital with AR-15's? What if "they" march with AR-15's in front of the White House? Would you argue that "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed"? Would you?
We need some common sense measures. That's the reason for the "well regulated Militia" clause. Certainly, there was expectation of some form of common sense regulation. 
How liberal is your perspective on the Second Amendment?
Mine is on the conservative side.


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