Letter: Constitution often used in piecemeal way

Friday, July 16, 2004 | 4:28 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

July 17 - 18, 2004

In his July 6 letter, Glen Gillette suggests that letter-writer James J. Poupard read the Second Amendment. Though he quotes from the amendment, I do have one question for him: How did he get past the words, "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State ..."?

Many individuals and groups today, be their ideology left or right, misuse the U.S. Constitution and its amendments. They have no qualms about picking aspects that favor their position and totally disregarding the rest as though it didn't exist.

The Constitution and its amendments are the foundation that, thus far, has held this country together. It is such a short document that a copy can be carried in one's shirt pocket. It contains no legal jargon. There is no reason for any individual having not read it.

TERRY E. PEELE

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