From: Rodent of Unusual Size (Ken.Coar@Golux.Com)
Date: Sun May 13 2001 - 16:45:38 PDT
Scroot, I am putting this into archive mode..
Russell Turpin wrote:
>
> Generally, this is true. The glaring exception is the
> second amendment.
And the really, really strange thing about it is that
the first amendment is nowise as clear and straightforward
a protection of the things it is now seen as protecting
as the second is of its. Hmm, that does not read so well.
Let me try excerpts:
"Amendment I
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging
the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people
peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress
of grievances.
"Amendment II
"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."
Okey, how does the language of the first amendment provide
for the guaranty of anonymity for journalistic sources? Et
cetera. The language of the second amendment, on the other
hand, is pretty bloody unequivocal.
Somehow in the entire swath of Constitutional language *except*
the 2nd amendment, the word 'people' means the citizenry and/or
populace, individually and collectively. But the anti-gun
faction reads 'people' in the 2nd amendment as referring to
the National Guard.
The meaning of 'militia' almost certainly in effect at the time
of the framing of the amendment: "the whole body of able-bodied
male citizens declared by law as being subject to call to military
service." 'Madison himself wrote that a regular army that
threatened liberty would find itself opposed by "a militia
amounting to near a half a million citizens with arms in their
hands."' [1] And '... scholars cite ample historical evidence to
support this reading of the text. These range from statements of
the Framers concerning the makeup of the militia, such as George
Mason's "Who are the militia? They consist now of the whole
people"'. [2]
And finally, 'Admiral Yamamoto: "You cannot invade mainland United
States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass." Advising
Japan's military leaders of the futility of an invasion of the
mainland United States because of the widespread availability of guns.
It has been theorized that this was a major contributing factor in
Japan's decision not to land on North America early in the war when
they had vastly superior military strength. This delay gave our
industrial infrastructure time to gear up for the conflict and was
decisive in our later victory.' [3]
Whew. Foaming at the mouth when one is possessed of a full beard
can be fairly disgusting. I need to go clean up now..
[1] <URL:http://www.2ndlawlib.org/journals/reycrit.html>
[2] Ibid.
[3] <URL:http://www.sightm1911.com/Care/Gun_Quotes.htm>
-- #ken P-)}Ken Coar <http://Golux.Com/coar/> Apache Software Foundation <http://www.apache.org/> "Apache Server for Dummies" <http://Apache-Server.Com/> "Apache Server Unleashed" <http://ApacheUnleashed.Com/>
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