Open Culture - Latest Comments in The Second Amendment: Does It Really Let You Bear Arms?

Re: The Second Amendment: Does It Really Let You Bear Arms?

Tonya — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 17:45:12 -0000

Am I correct that People who have served time and have felonies, but have been trouble free for over 25 - 30 years, and are now upstanding, hard working, and honest citizens, still have the right to bare arms and protect their home, even though they have a few nonviolent felonies on their record?

Re: The Second Amendment: Does It Really Let You Bear Arms?

Jud Williams — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 19:05:59 -0000

The Second Amendment clearly asserts that each state is "free" and able to maintain a militia to remain free. This is unlike many other countries, where local militias are nonexistent. This is one of the unique qualities of the United States. If a foreign power were to invade America, they would have to overrun the militia of each state and each state would in turn have to surrender before the central government is forced to capitulate to such an invading power. The American Civil War is a clear example of how this works as each state of the former Confederacy was required to pledge allegiance to the federal government prior to being readmitted to the Union. It goes without saying that for a militia to be effective, it would necessarily need to possess arms. So why would the amendment go on to say that the people have the right to bear arms? That would be merely stating an obvious redundancy, since a militia is in the business of carrying out military functions, which includes the use of arms. The key to the second part of the amendment is that the "people" have the right to bear arms. By using the word "people," the amendment is stating that it is a right to be enjoyed by all Americans in an inclusive sense.

Re: The Second Amendment: Does It Really Let You Bear Arms?

ben j — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 19:52:40 -0000

reeeeeally good talk. my friend and I sat down to watch it, and before we started, we laid out our positions, basically one on each side of the debate. Sunstein proceeds to explain how we're both wrong. Awesome.