“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.” – United States Constitution, 2nd Amendment.
“Back in the day”, ‘well-regulated’ meant ‘well-trained’ or ‘well-operating’, meaning you knew how to not only fire, but maintain your weapon. The “Militia” was anyone who was available to answer the call to arms (and responding to such a call was compulsory in many cases). The people were meant to have the right to own guns in that context.
But, just as the Constitution has provisions for for denying certain rights to people under certain conditions, gun rights should be no different.
It should be the default position of the government that a citizen over the age of majority should be allowed to have a firearm. However, the government should also be able to show good cause as to why someone should NOT be allowed to exercise that right. The mentally ill, convicted felons, spousal abusers – they all come to mind.
I find it fascinating, in a depressing way, that today’s conservative thinks that a convicted felon, upon release from prison, should NOT have the right to vote but SHOULD have their gun ownership rights restored!
“Well regulated” could be considered analagous to what we do with driving – you have to study up and take a test to prove you can handle exercising your rights. If you do something bad, like driving drunk, those rights are removed. And let’s not forget the militia part. Ok, so we don’t all have to enlist in the Army or National Guard – but consider how the military handles the situation of allowing their people to have firearms. It’s not like they hand out pistols at the induction hall.
Here’s the shocker. Most of the proposed gun restrictions have overwhelming support.
Look at the chart about 7 paragraphs in. It shows the following support:
- Mental health restrictions: 87% support
- Universal Background Checks: 81%
- Require permit for concealed carry: 79%
- Family-initiated Red Flag laws: 77%
- Police-initiated Red Flag laws: 70%
The real shocker is that ALL of those proposals are supported by at least 2/3 of Republicans – with Mental Health, Background Checks and Family Red Flag laws drawing at or over 70% support.
Banning assault weapons and high capacity magazines still “net” over 60% support but Republicans drop off to under 40% for an assault weapon ban and just over 40% for banning high capacity magazines.
The desire for REASONABLE gun control is there. It’s the political will that’s missing.
Unless you’re suffering from mental illness, a spousal abuser or a violent felon, Democrats are NOT coming for your guns!
GraniteVoter.blog 