The Second Amendment
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.
Back when I was in school, they took American civics seriously. In school, I memorized the Preamble and could summarize the first ten Amendments, otherwise called the Bill of Rights. I'm not going to get into why nowadays American civics isn't taught, but I will say either it's not taught in schools nowadays or they do a shoddy job at it. Therefore, I have taken it upon myself to give you the Bill of Rights, piece by piece.
A few weeks ago, I did a post on the First Amendment. I love the Bill of Rights, and there's a reason why the First is first. There's also a reason why the Second is second. Our Founding Fathers realized the importantce of private gun ownership. They feared tyranny, and knew that the only way to prevent tyranny is with vigilance (in this context, the opposite of apathy) and firearms as a last resort. This is a quote from Justice Alex Kozinski, a Judge who gets it.
The Second Amendment is a doomsday provision, one designed for those exceptionally rare circumstances where all other rights have failed where the government refuses to stand for reelection and silences those who protest; where courts have lost the courage to oppose, or can find no one to enforce their decrees. However improbable these contingencies may seem today, facing them unprepared is a mistake a free people get to make only once.
-Justice Alex Kozinski, US 9th
It really bothers me that a lot of Americans think the Second is outdated. By that token, let's ban Freedom of Speech. Too many people get offended too easily and feelings get hurt. So let's not have free speech. Anything that could offend anyone should be banned and whomever says it should go to jail.
I'm being sarcastic, of course, but you see what I'm getting at.
Mr. Kozinski gets it. He understand that when the government has become a police state, when they start silencing people they don't like, it needs to be overthrown, and overthrown violently. I've heard people on the Left say there's no way to oppose an evil dictatorship with force if it ever happened in the U.S. of A. That's not only fatalistic, it's downright stupid.
Let's do a little math. In America, eighty million people own guns. Of those eighty million with guns, we own around three hundred million guns. That's more than one gun per person. Now, I don't think I need to say how bad guerilla warfare is. Imagine a guerilla war against eighty million people with three hundred million guns. Even China would get slaughtered.
Speaking of which, the one thing that is never said in the whole debate is private gun ownership guarantees that no violent foreign invasion would ever be successful. The Japanese knew that in WWII. They were just afraid to tell Hirohito that.
I won't get into the anti-crime aspects of gun ownership because that would be an entirely new post. It's mainly to defend us from a foreign invasion and to defend us against tyranny.
The last thing to keep in mind is that every genocide in the 20th century was preceeded by gun confiscation. If you wanted to round up a bunch of people and liquidate them, good luck if they're all armed. Of course, the day the government starts rounding up my neighbors because they're a certain race, ethnicity, or religion, I'm passing out my extras.
posted by The Zombieslayer @ 8:49 AM
26 Comments:
tbyyrhgIf the government is going to take away things from us that ruin us, they should take away our TVs and let us keep our guns. TVs make us controllable and stupid.
Excellent post, Zombie, my husband would love it.
Ooooh, I thought it was the right to bear arms! Silly me.
Good post, btw!
Too late, the 2nd Amendment can be snatched away from you quicker than a girl can turn me down for a date. Take a look at the police in NOLA who publicly announced then subsequently went to people's homes to confiscate their firearms (legal or not).
Let me ask you this: After 9-11 are you surprised at ANYTHING the government does not? Freedom of Information Act, Unlimited Phone Taps and Email and Internet Interceptions, Freedom of Speech and Protest limitations, Removal of 2nd Amendment Rights, Using soldiers to police our citizens domestically. Even 10 years ago, these would have been unacceptable.
But hey, all in the name of a nation completely protected from terror, right?
*I was just kidding about the girl.
No I wasn't :(
Michele - Funny thing is I don't think I'd miss my TV too much. If there were ever a bad invention that dumbed down the populace, that would be it.
Bsoholic - I've seen a t-shirt where it was to arm bears. Seeing that bears do not have opposable thumbs, it wouldn't do them any good. It's kind of like the Far Side cartoon where the phone rings and the cows just sit there on the couch because they don't have the thumbs to answer it.
Sygyzy - Actually there is a long term plan to get rid of the 2nd Amendment, one gun at a time. First, they have to create a scare. "Assault rifles" is what they're using. But of course if you look up definition for assault rifle, you'd see that assault rifles are already illegal except in Nevada and for collectors, but heavily regulated in those cases.
As for NO, that's an extreme case. I don't see a disaster that big affecting the entire country, and if it does, it would be anarchy anyways so the gov't would be powerless.
Good points, but I think the main problem we're facing as a nation is apathy. People feel powerless instead of realizing that we all have a lot more power than we realize.
ZS - It all starts somewhere. First NO, next, your cache in Texas.
Sygyzy - Trust me, they won't be getting my cache in Texas without some serious casualties. It's pretty safe. :)
I do think the American people are starting to wake up and realizing that enough is enough. My big concern is that a lot of good people will feel powerless and become cynical instead of motivated.
Our enemies are cynicism and apathy, for those two allow Constitutional violations to occur.
This is an issue that I'm personally conflicted with. On the one hand, I know it's important for the people to maintain the ability to overthrow a tyrannical government. On the other hand, I think living in a large city, that guns are more often used for ill than for good. I also think that the argument for overthrowing the government is a moot point nowadays - not because I trust the government, but because there is no weapon a civilian can get their hands on that can out match the US military. None.
I know far too many people that have been the victims of gun violence - most in situations where having a gun themselves would not have helped the situation. In fact, it's been almost exactly 10 years since my HS friend Brendan was gunned down in cold blood on the CTA by some guy wanting to steal his guitar. The argument that "the bad guys get them anyway" doesn't hold water for me.
GOTTA get me some "extras"!! ;)
Tshsmom - Yeah, I still wish I had more. ;)
Laura - I understand that with guns, there will be accidents and there will be heartless murders that wouldn't have happened if there wasn't a gun there. This is another issue though so I'm not avoiding it, I'm more postponing replying to it.
As for civilians vs an evil gov't, I completely disagree. As an avid war nut, guerrilla warfare is rarely winnable. We saw the most powerful nation ever which couldn't win in Vietnam and is currently bogged down in Iraq. If we're having that much trouble in those relatively puny countries that have not even one tenth the private gun ownership of American citizens, how is a corrupt dictatorship supposed to win a guerilla war against us?
I have to seriously disagree with your arguments defending the 2nd Amendment. I think it's possible to care about the right to bear arms but nto be a gun nut.
I personally care about the 2nd Amendment only because it's a right, and therefore should not be taken away. I have very pro gun friends, NRA members, and those that can cite court cases and news stories about how arming the populace would solve and/or prevent most crime in America.
Who are you guys fooling? You think your friend wouldn't get "gunned down" (a little overkill of a term. Like saying Tupac or Biggie were assasinated [Chris Rock joke, look it up]) if he was armed? Because we are all expert marksmen right? Did you know cops, professional police officers, have less than a 50% accuracy rate. In fact, I believe it's much less but I am too busy to look it up right now. It's extremely difficult to shoot a small target, 10's of meters away, that is moving.
Protect Against Foreign Invasion - What foreign invasion? The closest anyone has gotten was Pearl Harbor. I don't consider 9/11 a foreign army moving in. It will NEVER happen. You don't need automatic weapons for this. If they came in, I am sure our military is sufficient to handle it. It will never reach the people.
2nd Amendment fanbois amuse me. Why not be honest with yourselves rather than making up excuses on why you should have a Mac-10 and concealed carry?
I'll start - I want the 2nd Amendment to stand strong because I like guns, I think they look cool, I enjoy their history and the intricacies of how they operate. I do not for a second believe when I purchase a gun that I am going to be saving the country, fighting off evil, or even defending my home or family.
You can like guns. Just admit it. You don't have to make up special excuses as to why.
The US constitution is one of the greatest documents in recent history. Everything in there is there for a reason. I believe in the right to bear arms, even as a Canadian.
Does the erosion of these rights in the name of national security frighten anyone? It should....
"Those who give up essential liberties for temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
~Benjamin Franklin
Raemius - Does the erosion of these rights in the name of national security frighten anyone? It should....
It does me. Great Franklin quote by the way. I loved that guy.
Even if the gov't has good intentions, that doesn't mean the next guy who comes along won't use it the wrong way. It's all about checks and balances.
Sygyzy - Well, I make it clear on this blog that I'm a gun nut. I love guns, heavy metal music, hot chicks, good beer, good food, good company, good books, the Romantic era of classical music (Beethoven to Dvorak), good film, etc. I don't want any of the mentioned banned.
By the way, I'm not an NRA member. I'm a lifetime GOA member though, because they don't compromise with guns.
Keep in mind though, there was no National Guard until last century. I don't even see why we need it. The militia is supposed to be you and me, your neighbors Jim and Barbara, and your uncle Pete. America was invaded three times in our history and three times, the invaders got their butts kicked.
How many other nations can say that? Well, let's see. We have Thailand and Switzerland. What do they have in common? They're two countries you're better off not messing with. Just like America.
As for the crime issue, guns, even on the person will not guarantee you will be immune to crime. However, if you were a bad guy, would you rather jump the guy with the gun or with the cell phone?
By the way Sygyzy, I'm doing the Bill of Rights one by one. A few weeks ago, it was #1. Now it's #2. Next week it will be #3. I just don't understand why #2 is so hate It's usually by city people whose only association with guns has been when some stupid gang banger shoots at a friend of theirs so they want to ban all of them.
As our fine young men serving in Iraq are finding, it doesn't take much tech to cause damage to elite troops. It's a quiet little fact that almost any non-military rifle round will pierce most standard issue body armour used by law enforcement, except the highest rated UN combat body armour.
I spent alot of time in the West where there are certainly more guns per capita than any major city and despite there being guns in every gun rack, there were seldom any gun related problems. Maybe it's because these guys respected their guns as tools and their neighbors as human beings.
There's an interesting ongoing legal battle in Ohio... Apparently some guy finally filed a lawsuit because while it's legal to carry a weapon in Cinci., you will always get a ticket for carrying one. If it's concealed it will be for carrying a concealed weapon. If it's in the open it will be for inciting a riot. This is true even if you have a valid reason to carry a weapon legally, such as running a store in a high-crime area or being a private detective licensed to carry a concealed weapon. I menation both those because they're actually a part of this suit. Anyway, it was a clear subverting of Federal law.
Anyway, since I don't place a lot of faith in the government, or law enforcement in general...I will likely excercise my right to keep a gun.
Alrite!
GEE! all guns in this world should disappear!! but i guess that's no use...cause people might use knives then!....gee! the world:(
hey you like this new pic!!??
and i decided am ok wit my ol' name:)
I am glad you are posting these articles Zombie -- this is better then the mess they are teaching my grandchildren.
As a matter of fact, I don't see nothing wrong with owning a gun and a standby. With the way the world is today, if you don't have one --- you're up shit creek.
You know there are folks bold enough to kick your door in to rob you --- anyboby kicking my door in will meet my 38 special with hollow points or my double barrel backup!
"It's usually by city people whose only association with guns has been when some stupid gang banger shoots at a friend of theirs so they want to ban all of them."
Guilty! Yep, that's me. I do think there is a strong urban vs. rural divide on this issue. I also think that cityfolk, like myself, have less need for guns for personal protection because (and I'm gonna make a few enemies here) our police force is a bit better equipped than the cops of Mayberry to handle issues of personal protection. I feel very safe with the CPD on watch. I don't know if I could say that if I lived in the middle of nowhere. (to me the middle of nowhere includes suburbia). Maybe if I lived in a more rural environment I'd have a different view.
Being that I am a Canadian, I actually am fairly clueless about the Amendments to any extent of detail... I am thrilled to be countering my ignorance by reading your posts.
Funny thing, I've never been fearful of guns. When I was little my father taught my brother and I how to use a shot-gun, and then later when I was an army cadet it was mandatory to learn to dismantle, reassemble and fire a rifle. That was fun to me... but I dropped cadets because I didn't like what that shade of green did for my complextion.
Before I watched bowling for columbine I actually thought that the wide accessability of guns in the US was responsible for much more of their crime and fear... now I know better. And after reading one of your previous posts about the little woman with the big gun, it made me wish we had such a right that enabled us to arm ourselves. I guess self-defense classes will have to suffice.
And if there is ever a need for me to be armed, such as an alien invasion (from space or some other continent) I'll come visit the zombieslayer.
A couple of littel points, if the time comes that the government is in need of overthrowing, well, unless they have reworked the people inthe army don't worry too much. Half to two thirds will probably be joining the rebels. Remember, when one joins the service you swear an oath to "defend and protect the Constitution of the United States from all enemies foreign and domestic." That comes before everythign else in the oath. Most soldiers I know took that pretty seriously. I remember a converstaion with an Army officer in Afghanistan during a sweep operations where we were siezing weapons. HE commented that he was torn about taking them because, he said, "If we came to take my guns back home, I'd be shooting at us."
As for police, I have great respect for many of them; But they rarely protect me. They merely solve the crtime after it happens.
jphhayzl
Exmi - Remember, when one joins the service you swear an oath to "defend and protect the Constitution of the United States from all enemies foreign and domestic."
Right on! Most military people I know are on my side in the whole shebang, so I'm really not worried about the military turning on us.
Clothosfate - You'd be more than welcome at my anti-zombie compound any time. But of course, you already know that. :)
Laura - I understand where you're coming from. But I've always been "suspicious looking." I don't know if it's my dark skin, my long hair, or the clothing I wear, but I've had more problems with police harassment than with them actually helping me. So I'm very reluctant to depend on them.
Not saying all police are bad. I've been shooting with two very cool policemen and I got a lot of my handgun techniques from them. I've also had cops help me get to the gas station when my car broke down. But overall, I still cringe when I see a cop, because I don't know if they're a good cop or a bad cop.
LP - You know there are folks bold enough to kick your door in to rob you --- anyboby kicking my door in will meet my 38 special with hollow points or my double barrel backup!
The more you write, the more I like you. :)
TC - You have a pretty face, so it's always nice to have a pretty face in my comments section, but I'll be fine with either pic. Your choice.
As for knives vs guns, Mexico has the same murder rate we do, but they kill primarily with knives. I don't know about you, but if I get bitten by a zombie, I'd much rather have a gun than a knife to kill a few of them before finishing myself off.
Shawn - I hope everyone reads that. I have nothing to add. Well said.
Bridget - I love MAD magazine, even if they're now anti-gun. I still pick them up because they're so much funnier than every other magazine out there. It's probably funny for people to see a full-grown man busting up laughing in Barnes and Noodles at a MAD magazine.
I believe in the right to arm bears.
They really get the short end of the stick. I mean really, those damn rangers keeping them out of their own neighborhoods and letting campers shit all over their front yard. Complete BS!
But seriously folks, who'd really try and invade Compton or Richmond?
Those gangsters would whip out their AK's in a second if they thought that someone was going to try and take over their slum.
Not to mention the liquor store owners on top of thier rooftops with Uzis.
I feel that we should be allowed to own guns. Only people should be required to take a gun safety course and to use a gun lock. That's not too much to ask is it?
Joe - I really think we need to take all the gang bangers and put them in the military. Take all that unchanneled aggression and put it to good use. I've known a lot of people who used to be punks who came out of the military productive citizens.
As for gun safety, teach those courses in high school again. Let everyone learn them.
Not too crazy about locks though because in a situation when you really need your gun is when the lock gets stuck. Imagine having your house being invaded by zombies and you can't find the key to your gunlock, or you forget the combination. Not a good situation to be in. :\
My husband, the ultimate pacifist, has dicided that it's time for each of us to get a handgun and we should have a rifle or two for the house. My concern is that people distrust their government and it's ability to help them in an emergency so much that they feel that have no choice but to arm themselves.
PC - Good for you. Being all the way in Pennsylvania, you're going to be hard to get to when the zombie plague starts. ;)
I love America and I do think we still have a good government, but an inept one. I wish government was considerably smaller though and my taxes were lower.
However, yes, I do fear a dictatorship. It can happen here. All it takes is an economic collapse and people will get desperate.
I don't need guns now to protect myself from the current government. But what if twenty years down the road, the economy completely collapses and they blame one of my many ethnicities for the collapse. It is then that I'll be glad I'll be taking out someone with me when they come for me. If everyone had that attitude, genocide would be virtually impossible.
Savage - Funny, with skin color, you're one of the whiter people. Yup, had the same experiences. One cop playing good cop and the other playing bad cop. It's not fun, especially when you have a mid-term coming up.
But then again, as I've always said, white privilege only applies if you're middle-class or higher. Working class whites got the same end of the stick as working class everyone else.
Just to make you feel better, here's a joke. You know how to tell if a cop's dead?
The doughnut falls out of his hand.
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