Do You Own a Gun?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Kingswood

The second amendment does not confer an unconditional right to keep and bear arms:

How many Americans who choose to exercise their constitutional right to keep and bear arms also choose to exercise their constitutional obligation to join a well regulated militia? Not everybody, I'm guessing.

When the 2nd amendment was drafted, there was no such thing as a modern police force in the United States, so such a provision makes sense given that the citizens had the responsibility of enforcing the law. This explains the first part: "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State". Had the concept of a modern police force been invented some 20 to 40 years earlier, the 2nd amendment as we know it would probably not exist.

You're way off base. It had nothing to do with police or lack thereof. Crime wasn't an issue, after all, everyone was armed and the most violent John Waynes on the planet.

The fear of the people was oppressive governments they had escaped from and were determined not to suffer again. Adding the guarantee of the right to keep their guns was a necessary inclusion in the bill of rights to win the support of the people for this or any government. Without the Bill of Rights, all of them, the people wouldn't trust any government to rule them.

[monster]

Originally Posted by Cloud

Beer!

'tho beer and guns don't mix too well.

Nor beer and gun discussions.

I choose beer

[bluecuracao]

Originally Posted by monster

I choose beer

Me too, I'm having one right now!

Musical interlude!

Guns 'N' Roses
Sex Pistols
38 Special ...

[elSicomoro]

Time for more music...from the Dead Milkmen:

"Would I be amused
Would you be impressed
That I had the power
To put a hole into your chest?
When the kids are crying
And the welfare check's been spent
Would I rob a liquor store
To get some money for the rent?

If I had a gun

Would I start smoking Marlboros?
Would I stop smoking Kents?
Would I gain some new respect?
Would I gain some confidence?
Would I suddenly go crazy
And shoot my family?
And see myself years later
On some crime show on TV

If I had a gun

Would I wear it in a holster?
Would I keep it concealed?
Would I put it on the table
Every time that I'm misdealed?
When I hear a nearby gunshot
When I'm up at night alone
Would I feel a little safer
Here in my urban home?

If I had a gun"

[monster]

Originally Posted by sycamore

Time for more music...from the Dead Milkmen:

"Would I be amused"

There is something simple a lot of urban people just don't think of. We rural people just won't give them up.
If we are forced to, we will just make more and give them to our friends.
End of story.
We have reloading equipment, stockpiles of brass, lead and powder, milling equipment and plans for most of our favorite guns.
Within a week we would be armed.
Within two, our families.
Within a month, our friends.
Done.
Those of you who wish to just will not disarm us. You can't.
It is not possible to undo technology.
Then you will have no idea who is armed, and we will have no reason to restrict what we have, the type or firing rate.

[elSicomoro]

How's that underground bunker coming along, Rob?

We have a compound. Sold the bunker.
Not kidding.

[Spexxvet]

[cowhead]

rkzenrage, and xoxoxobruce have points there. and I for one agree, one with the reason for the second amendment and the other for being able to arm oneself against an oppressive government.(although it must be said, if the national guard didn't join up with your states movement.. it's a lost cause.. yeah I liked red-dawn and taps as much as the next 35 some-odd-year old.. however.. it is overall a losing battle, (or would be).. not that I wouldn't be willing to take on that cause. better to die for something you believe in than a life of oppression)

[jinx]

I don't know cowhead, the armed citiz.. I mean insurgents in a few Iraqi cities seem to be holding their own. I don't see us going down with any less of a fight here.

I, and those like me, don't just know how to make guns and ammo. We would be able to hold our own just fine.

[bluecuracao]

Hold your own, against what??

[piercehawkeye45]

You aren't going to hold your own with handguns, which if anything gets banned, they will.

Everything you need to fight an army using guerilla tactics are basically illegal already. Rifles and shotguns will never be banned in this country, at least in the next 30-60 years, and those are the only legal guns that would be useful against an opposing/US army, besides assult rifiles and other powerful guns (I don't know the legal system with them).

If you are going to fight an army, expolsives are the way to go anyways.