Technically speaking, the 2nd amendment doesn't specify firearms... only "arms". Obviously, there's the whole argument as to whether "we the people" means the citizens individually, or collectively as a nation. But, if we interpret the 2nd amendment as granting individuals the right to own firearms, then we must also grant the right to those same individuals to own nuclear, chemical and bio-weapons.
And why not? Nuclear bombs don't kill people, PEOPLE kill people! Ooh, and if we outlaw anthrax, then only criminals will have anthrax!
Obviously, I don't seriously support this idea. My point, however, is that (hopefully) most of us can agree that not ALL restrictions and/or laws are a bad thing. Guns are not inherently bad. Gun laws are not inherently bad; banning certain types of weapons, requiring background checks, maybe even *gasp* registration & education is NOT going to lead to people taking away our guns.
And it pains me to see the conversation take that "slippery slope/end of freedom" turn everytime we, as a nation, examine & discuss our gun laws.
I know there are extremists on one side who would like to see all guns go away; there are also extremists on the other side who would LOVE to keep nuclear (and nook-ya-ler) weapons stashed in their van down by the river.
I just think that the majority of us are more rational, and we can meet somewhere in the middle.
Let's have that discussion.
I'll start by saying the constitution is not a dynamic living document. It is not open to interpretation unless the discussion is based in the late 1700s.
It says what was intended in very specific language for the most part, and if not, there is a provision for amendments to it with an exact and specific means for them to be made to it.
I fully support the 2nd amendment saying we the people have the right to keep and bear arms. I suggest the federal government should not have any more powerful arms than the residents of the country have unless it is voted on and passed by majority to be able to amend the constitution.
I also fully believe that was meant to provide a means of rebellion by the people against an overpowering federal government; as we have today.
I believe most if not all the gun control laws of today are unconstitutional and that the current federal government is doing their damnedest to do something to curtail that right.
I see ammo registration with serial numbers required on the box and all rounds and casings, in duplicate, being legislated now and tougher gun registration and more types of guns being banned and very wide sweeping all encompassing definition language being used to define the allowable arms. And if you read it, there will be none allowed.
I am seriously thinking of buying some guns and ammo because of that. Proving that for every action there is usually an opposite reaction. I ahd owned guns from the time I was 14 years old until 2.5 years ago (at age 64) when I sold them because we sold everything and moved into a motor home full time to be able to travel the country and there is no way to get gun legal everywhere.
I offer these quotes from the time the constitution was written.
No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.
Thomas Jefferson
The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep & bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.
Thomas Jefferson
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots & tyrants.
Thomas Jefferson
So generally speaking, what other than our current political correctness and touchy feely fearful of everything, no self discipline or common sense society do you have to support more gun control, or that that is already on the books?
For more currently timely and appropriate Jefferson quotes;
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/thomasjeff125076.html