Professor Joyce Lee Malcolm in 1996 wrote a very interesting book titled: "To Keep & Bear Arms: The origins of an Anglo-American Right". This book is a very interesting read and is available on Amazon. I would like to quote a small section of her work as it has proven to be prophetic.
If the government and the people in their wisdom come to the conclusion that no need for the right of the people to be armed exists, or that such a right does more harm than good, the amendment is the course that should be followed. While it is unconstitutional to legislate a right out of existence, this particular right is threatened with misinterpretation to the point of meaninglessness. Granted, this is a far easier method of elimination than admendment, being much quicker and not requiring the same rigid consensus or forthright discussion of it's constitutional relevancy. But it is also the way of danger. For to ignore all evidence of the meaning and intent of one of those rights included in the Bill of Rights is to create the most dangerous sort of precedent, one whose consequences could flow far beyond this one issue and endanger the fabric of liberty. (p.176-7).
She goes on to say that the forefathers worked and provided these rights for a reason. They were men of intellect and had all studied history and past civilizations. As such, we owe them considered attention before we disregard a right they felt imperative to bestow on us.
Society today has many individuals who violate the our rights and the rights of our country -- individuals who are insane. The problem is not the rights, it's the individuals. Eliminating our rights is not going to change individuals. Our country, any country, has problems dealing with erratic and insane behaviour. But we want solutions and the politicans are more than eager to be the heros and step in with their "solutions" so that they can bullhorn their achievements and win re-election.
Guns do not kill, people do. Spoons do not make you fat, eating does. Automobiles do not kill, drunk drivers do. Simplistic solutions do not solve problems, they make them worse. And far worse, they threaten our constitutional rights.
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