Letter: Consider purpose of right to bear arms
Monday, March 19, 2007 | 7:22 a.m.
When will it ever be learned that the purpose of the Second Amendment is stated clearly, in plain and simple English, within the amendment itself: "the security of a free State?" The amendment also states what is necessary to maintain a free state: "A well regulated Militia." A militia, different from a standing or professional army, requires its members to provide their own arms. As such, the amendment states that the "right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
A study of history will show that at the time of ratification of the Constitution, Anti-Federalists believed individuals were citizens of their respective states before they were citizens of the United States. The Anti-Federalists were promised that the individual states would be permitted to maintain their militias. In 1791 the first 10 amendments to the Constitution were ratified and became known as the Bill of Rights.
Most of the states at that time had statutes that required all able-bodied men to arm themselves and serve in their respective militias. These statutes specified the type of arms each of these men were to provide. In 1939 a federal district court (Untied States v. Miller) ruled that the National Firearms Act of 1934 had usurped the rights of states to establish and maintain a well-regulated militia.
While one may rightfully argue that the Second Amendment is an individual right, the amendment clearly states that individual right is designed for a specific purpose: "the security of a free State." Being able to arm one's self for self protection just happens to be a byproduct of that purpose.
Terry E. Peele, Las Vegas
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Harry Reid on mortgages: ‘Bank of America must do more’
- A sad day at the Sun, but a day for hope
- Tiger Woods allegedly linked to LV nightclub exec
- UNLV’s poise to be tested in first road game of season
- 6 charged in Metro officer’s death appear in NLV court
- Report: Nevada among friendliest states for small businesses
- Reports: Mayweather Jr. has agreed to fight Pacquiao
- Home prices cut in half in 12 valley ZIP codes over year
- Report: Investors buying up Las Vegas foreclosure homes
- How the economy is failing students
Blogs
The Kats Report
Noteworthy: More from the Trop, Cher changes, Newton on 'CBS Sunday Morning'
TUF Heavyweights
Marathon season finale (1 Comment)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Brian Sandoval is still against taxes, for limiting government and empowering people (7 Comments)
Elsewhere
TCU extends Gary Patterson through 2016
The Kats Report
Dissimilar landmarks -- Binion's and CityCenter -- reflect today's Las Vegas (8 Comments)
High School Sports Scene
Prep Football: State Championship (7 Comments)
Elsewhere
UFC debut in Boston likely July or August (1 Comment)
Calendar »
- 3 Thu
- 4 Fri
- 5 Sat
- 6 Sun
- 7 Mon
-
The Cranberries at The Pearl
The Pearl at the Palms | 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
Grand opening of Crystals at CityCenter
CityCenter-Crystals | 5 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Sans Age spa night at The Stirling Club featuring Danne' King
Stirling Club | 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
-
Bill Engvall at the Treasure Island Theatre
Treasure Island Theatre
-
Tabor Dame at Stoney’s Rockin’ Country
Stoney's Rockin' Country
-
ILORI sunglass boutique grand opening
Ilori Sunglass Boutique | 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati







