sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

We gun nuts (and let me say that I own numerous semi-automatic weapons, including an AR-15) tend to overlook half of the Second Amendment! I think we should respect the Second Amendment by requiring anyone who wants to own a weapon to join a "well regulated m*****a" - just as it SAYS! That would make sure that anyone with an advanced weapon knows how to actually use and store it safely, and would weed out many of the mentally ill people and religious zealots. M*****as would essentially be gun clubs with minimal guidelines - such things as requiring attendance at a certain number of meetings per year, demonstrating proficiency with any weapons that you own, etc. These would be local organizations with no official ties to the federal government. No one could argue that THIS violates our Second Amendment rights! The whole point of a m*****a was to have an organization with whom the common folk could rally to defend against any tyranny that suddenly faced them. That is a strong reason many people own powerful weapons today.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Steve, you bring up a very good point. It does seem that the first part of The Second Amendment is so often overlooked.
--Bob

ole sarg Loc: south florida

Actually the m*****a was not to defend against tyranny which implies the government but rather the British or indian attacks.

By Section 110 of Article III. of the Constitution of the United States, it is declared that: "Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. ... The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason."

GeorgeH Loc: Jonesboro, GA

A good idea, which will probably never fly. It would probably require dreaded "gummint" action, interference with individual rights, and those fearful regulations. I fear that the genie is out of the lamp, and we don't know any way to entice it back in, and then seal it up.

Wrangler Loc: North Texas

Look at the second amendment once again.

A well regulated M*****a, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the PEOPLE to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

OK..... the point is? Unfortunately the framers of the Constitution are not here to guide us in interpretation.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

The Congress can pass laws and SCOTUS can interpret them. Thus, we don't need the framers pesent.

Nikon Shooter17 Loc: Glenwood, MN

While I can see your points...and having worked within the government for 20 years, the reason it would lack support in my opinion is because of the "slippery slope issue". Government is great at adding to laws...and the SCOTUS isn't what it used to be... it has become too ideological..I would love to strengthen some gun laws...but I lack faith in politicians and those who care only about forwarding their personal agendas and let it over ride common sense and the ability to meet in the middle to get something done.

Huey Driver Loc: Texas

What I see wrong with your quote is the using of words like "common sense." Using common sense is a very subjective statement. The folks on the Left have their heels stuck in the ground so far they won't budge. The ones on the Right just the same. The few folks in the middle who might have some "common sense" are so out numbered that nothing of any value gets done. As you stated we do need to meet in the middle somehow but on the issue of guns that so far seems almost impossible.

Nikon Shooter17 Loc: Glenwood, MN

Point taken on common sense....does it exist anymore?? I don't know...My fear is that someday with all this h**e and as you stated "dug in heels"...it will eventually have to come to violence...pray for peace, prepare for what may come....sad...both sides are like little children...I want it all, I want it now and if isn't exactly like I want it, I ;m taking my ball and going home...impossible is right

Iwantitall Loc: Chicago (south side)

Joined the lll%er’s Original.We are a community of gun enthusiasts who not only believe in our Constitution, but help our communities as well. We are currently cleaning up floods from the Kankakee and Iroquois rivers. Nothing warms the heart more. When people ask us why we would drive hundreds of miles around the state to help people we have never even met,we simply inform them THIS is what the lll%’ers do. Yet the l*****ts feel that calling us a m*****a will further their gun grabbing cause because THEY own the vocabulary (through the media and Hollywood)that says m*****as are violent,r****t,nut jobs. We are changing and opening minds one at a time. I’ve seen soooo many tears of joy from the hundreds we’ve helped. Oh......and our AR-15s behaved themselves locked in their safes while we were helping our fellow Americans. This group is made up of every race,g****r,&religion. Yet people only see our love of the 2nd Amendment as if it were a bad thing.🙄 One further note I’d like to add. When the lll%’ers and other community based groups tried to register with FEMA at the flood sites, your wonderful Red Cross objected. I guess the quicker a clean up is completed,the less $$ they receive. The mayor said the same.(Are you f’n kiddin me?) So we took off our lll%’er shirts and picked Americans to help without them. Bottom line is....people who don’t understand what a “m*****a “ is,have only the media’s agenda driven definition.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

I have thought the same thing. Application for a gun permit is also an enlistment in a local m*****a. However, the was a SCOTUS decision a while back that severed the right to keep and bear arms from the m*****a language. SCOTUS essentially amended the Constitution without the need for ratification by 3/4s of the States. Note that #2 says "keep and bear" and does not say "fire and have ammunition."

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

The placement of the commas focus understanding, but how many know that the 3-comma version was the one that passed Congress, but the the version sent to the States for ratification had only 2 commas. That refocuses the understanding. The Founders were learned men, understood language, and valued punctuation. In our present day society punctuation seems passé.

Huey Driver Loc: Texas

Unless your just a collector it would be pretty stupid to have a weapon and no ammunition just in case you, your family or someone was in eminent danger and you needed to fire.

Wrangler Loc: North Texas

It sounds like you are grasping at straws. The m*****a language is a reason to keep and bear arms. A gun without ammunition is useless except for using it as a club. The constitution says the "people" have the right to keep and bear arms. It does not say the"m*****a" has the right to keep and bear arms.

A gun is almost useless without ammunition. A gun is an instrument that can launch a projectile. Without said projectile, it is only a club and not a gun. To say that the "people" do not have the right to a projectile is to say that they only have the right to keep a club. That is ludicrous and the SCOTUS recognized the legislative intent of the constitution.