I’d like to respond to the opinion piece in the July 15 edition of the Recorder bashing the Second Amendment and gun owners.
It is an all too common tactic of the propagandist to omit language that weakens an argument or position … In this particular anti-Second Amendement submission, the author’s piece calls out “well regulated,” which applies to the body “Militia” and “purposely” omits “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
In this example, an entire segment was omitted that partially predicated the recent decision (supporting Antonin Scalia’s prior ruling in Heller) of the SCOTUS — The Militia is regulated, for its purpose, to ensure a secure and free state; the individual component, i.e., the “people,” are afforded the right: “to keep and bear arms.” This is enforced with: “Shall not be infringed!” It all seems to me, to be quite unambiguous. Apparently, though, this simple language is too complex for Massachusetts and for just four or five other states and some of their residents to comprehend.
Gun ownership and driving licensure are yet more unfactual propagandist diatribe. Here in Massachusetts in order to acquire an unrestricted LTC, (license to carry) you must undergo/pass a criminal background check, and be photographed and fingerprinted to exercise a constitutional right! “Anyone” can get a driver’s license, hassle-free! How many times a day on our roads have you encountered other drivers and wondered out loud, “where the h— did you get your license?” Training? Laws? Requisite skills and knowledge? Periodic re-testing? Pure fantasy!
Firearm ownership is a constitutional right, and driving is a privilege. It would be great if the two were treated alike in terms of qualification and enforcement! Everyone would be safer. Gun owners are required to comply with rules/laws in every instance, mandated by state/federal law and, by strict codes of conduct imposed by responsible educated people on fellow gun owners within the community. Most any violation with a firearm and you will lose that “right” — often for life, likely serve jail time, and be fined up the wazoo. Drive drunk/distracted/recklessly or run someone over … Your “privilege” may be temporarily suspended, likely a small fine.
As a group, legal gun owners are some of the “most” law-abiding people in the country, according to a report by the Crime Prevention Research Center. In a study ordered by President Barack Obama and conducted by the CDC, the results of which, indicated legal guns may have prevented 300,000 to 2.7 million crimes. With the dangers of defunding/vilifying the police, weakening of our military, anti-Americanism, the increase in socialist ideology, and vilification of the Second Amendment — supported by radical activists — gun ownership has been increasing! according to the FBI background check system numbers (NICS). A study and report conducted by NSSF (National Shooting Sports Foundation) and numerous other sources can be found online that suggest women and minorities are in part, responsible for these increases. Hmmm?
The human heart and mind are dangerous. A tool isn’t dangerous until manipulated by a human hand. Anthropomorphizing guns or any inanimate object is just blatant foolishness.
David Powell lives in Northfield.