I have thought long and hard before writing this post. But enough is enough. But this conversation needs to be started. I would like to start this off by saying I am a hunter and a fishermen and a N.R.A. member. I understand the need to have guns. In Alaska you do not want to come face to face with a bear or a moose without one. I get that I encourage that. I understand that. But enough is enough already with the assault riffles. Those are made for hunting people. It is time to see that the NRA making the laws to self govern themselves is just not working. The big money by them and others needs to be removed from our elections.
Look I have never understood how politicians can raise millions to get elected but these same industries and these same leaders in the community do not give that same money to schools, the homeless, vets, poor, sick, old etc. Seems investing in America and it people would far better serve them and their products as well as productivity. It is shameful what lobbyist are allowed to do to our government and our laws. There is a basic morel compass that we all have. It is our free will weather or not that we choose to use it. I hear the second amendment backers screaming at the reading of this. But really lets break that down shall we?
Early English settlers in America viewed the right to arms and/or the right to bear arms and/or state militias as important for one or more of these purposes
enabling the people to organize a militia system.
participating in law enforcement;
deterring tyrannical government;
repelling invasion;
suppressing insurrection, allegedly including slave revolts;
facilitating a natural right of self-defense.
During the 1760s pre-revolutionary period, the established colonial militia was composed of colonists, including many who were loyal to British imperial rule. As defiance and opposition to British rule developed, a distrust of these Loyalists in the militia became widespread among the colonists, known as Patriots, who favored independence from British rule. As a result, some Patriots created their own militias that excluded the Loyalists and then sought to stock independent armories for their militias. In response to this arms build up, the British Parliament established an embargo on firearms, parts and ammunition on the American colonies. British and Loyalist efforts to disarm the colonial Patriot militia armories in the early phases of the American Revolution resulted in the Patriot colonists protesting by citing the Declaration of Rights, and their own militia laws and common law rights to self-defense.
But in this modern day do any of us believe if we showed up with guns in hand trying to over throw our government or a state building or whatever that they would permit that to happen? Come on now. I think we all can admit that that would not be allowed. So in that sense We The People have already had this right as it was intended the right to bare arms has all but been gutted and revoked.
So lets compare what the term "A well regulated Militia" was back then verses what it is today. Back during the time of America being born A "well regulated militia", meant every able bodied and armed man who was not in the Army whose help could be requested in a time of danger. The adjective 'well-regulated' implies nothing more than the imposition of proper discipline and training and adequately regulated. But now many people say that the purported right of the people to keep and bear arms MUST be infringed. If it is not regulated (or infringed upon), because people stock piling arms and ammo and other such military equipment does not equate to , or even meet the definition of a militia as intended by our founding fathers. Multitudes would actually argue that they are directly undermining and threatening the security of the state and the right to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" which is a well-known phrase in the United States Declaration of Independence. The phrase gives three examples of the "unalienable rights" which the Declaration says have been given to all human beings by their Creator, and which governments are created to protect. We hold these truths to be sacred & undeniable; that all men are created equal & independent, that from that equal creation they derive rights inherent & inalienable, among which are the preservation of life, & liberty, & the pursuit of happiness;
So where does that leave the modern day definition of a militia?
There are great points from the above links. They offer up great ideologies and even greater conspiracies that surround and abound on all sides of this argument. But how does 4 or 5 guys playing soldiers in the woods with their military attire equate to a well regulated militia? And who is regulating them? What are the training hours needed? These are valid questions in my views. But the availability of the masses just going and buying what ever they want and at any amount is just scary as hell. With no I.D. no background checks just by handing them money. I hear that it is my "God Given right" I have to say that I would think that Any God would not agree with that statement. I find that this is a last link to really give the real life look at what it means to be an American that owns guns. It shows just how easy it is right now in Florida . I know that without some better ways to deal with reducing gun violence and the owning of these assault riffles and still honoring the 2nd Amendment : America will continue to see these horrific killings. It seems strange that most of the laws that have been passed or enacted have all but been neutered by loop holes and by lobbyist with the full backing of the N.R.A. Or out right removed by the swipe of Trumps pen. To continue to do nothing because the "bad guys" will get them any way, is not a acceptable answer anymore. I found this vice t.v. peice to show just what we as Americans are really up agaist.
But in this day and age of mass shootings theses issues need to be looked into. But I don't think at this point anyone will be happy with whatever is implemented or enacted. However to do nothing is not the answer and at what a high cost?
