The Right To Bear Arms

A fellow motorcycle blogger at Keep The Rubber Side Down recently had a post titled Packing Heat discussing his right to "concealed carry" in his state of Ohio. I know this isn't motorcycle related but it's a topic I'm passionate about. So, here goes my rant.

What part of 'Shall Not Be Infringed' don't you understand? In their own words, the Framers saw the "right of the people to keep and bear arms" so important that they made it second in our Bill of Rights. The Second Amendment wasn't written into our Bill of Rights so that we could go duck or deer hunting. The Second Amendment was given to us as protection against tyranny by the federal government and the Congress of the United States. Our Framers new the truth. They had first hand knowledge of an oppressive government which is why they left England. Their quotes bear witness to these oppressions and serve as a warning to our country.

George Washington: "Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence."

Thomas Jefferson: "And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. ... The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants."

Patrick Henry:"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined...The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able might have a gun.

Samuel Adams:"The Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms."

George Mason:"To disarm the people (is) the best and most effectual way to enslave them."

Thomas Jefferson: "The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that... it is their right and duty to be at all times armed."

Alexander Hamilton: "The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed."

Tench Coxe: "Whereas civil rulers, not having their duty to the people duly before them, may attempt to tyrannize ... the people are confirmed by the article in their right to keep and bear their private arms."

Thomas Jefferson: "One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them."

Thomas Jefferson:"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."

"Oh, you're just being paranoid. That could never happen in America.", I've been told. I'm sure that's what the people of the Soviet Union, Germany, Uganda and many other nations were told just before their gun rights were taken away only to have millions killed shortly after. Known defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million. Just look at how many of our freedoms and rights have eroded over the past handful of years. Then ask yourself just how far away are we from where these other nations were at.