Pasted below is the Bill of Rights and some other links for easy reference.
Another school shooting has provoked the usual knee jerk response to violate the Second Article of the Bill of Rights, which is:
“Article the fourth… A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
The defenders of infringing this right usually try these arguments:
- Some countries have banned guns and have less school shootings.
- Guns are part of American national Identity, which needs to change.
- FOR THE CHILDREN
I’ll start with argument #1, because it is compelling on its face, but lacks substance in the real world.
Let’s talk Union Shops. You have seven clothing makers in an area. If they are all owned separately, each employer is in competition with the others for the best employees. Naturally, the best will gravitate to where they are treated best, compensated best, etc. So, the best employer sets a standard by which the others must calibrate how they treat employees.
So it is with countries. If England decided to start brutalizing their best and brightest, at this point, these people have an escape route, America, which for the purposes of this blog will be considered the “union shop”. People might say “Oh, immigration is being restricted.” That is for the poor and huddled masses. The best and brightest are highly mobile, sought after, and usually have capital.
So there is something to the notion that America is a beacon of human rights. We elevate the rest of the world, because we exist as an escape hatch for the all-stars from other countries. My premise is the best and brightest are always welcome, the immigration rules don’t exist for them. This is real world stuff–we took in Nazi scientists after WW2, as did other countries. The best and the brightest are mobile.
So, by this logic, if America lowers its standards of Freedom, that is restricts the Rights stated in the Constitution, we make countries all over the world more likely to lower their standards as well.
In other words, our Constitution benefits people who don’t live here, but in foreign countries. We act as an example to the rest of the world, and as a threat to countries who treat their best people like garbage.
Argument 2- The reason for the 2nd Amendment is because of America’s cowboy history, and this should change because we are no longer cowboys.
I hear even “conservatives” spout this one, even that British guy who is always on Tucker Carlson. This is completely wrong, and painfully shallow.
The reason for the right to bear arms is the rights to property and free speech depend on it. Can’t put it any simpler than that. If you disagree, you need to try living in the real world for a while.
What right does our government have to bear arms? Well, the right was allocated to them by the People. If the government does not act in accordance with the Constitution, the People have the duty and necessity to take the right back. After all, it is the lawful right of the People to begin with, otherwise the right could never have been allocated by the People in the first place.
I don’t hunt. I think shooting little animals is barbaric, and would certainly do so for food, but for sport? There are more efficient ways to control the deer population.
I support the Right to bear arms because I don’t trust groups. Individuals I can usually reason with, but the collective is a monster. Look at how governments and corporations act. They cower behind each other and vote heinous acts. The USA government invades countries when jet fuel incinerates structural steel. Madeleine Albright said the death of a half million Iraqi children due to sanctions was “worth it“. What did these deaths accomplish? Why worth it? Did CNN ever have a Town Hall meeting for these half million dead kids? No, of course not.
American kids are different though, you insist, as they force your defenseless, unarmed family into boxcars. I tried to warn you, but you were oh so smart. Look at you now.
3. FOR THE CHILDREN.
This is indeed a good point. Let me propose this–we take a thousand kids who would never, ever, shoot up a school, a 1000 kids who would, survey them as to why, and have real statistical data to support correctives actions to American culture. Violence is a systemic, endemic, cultural problem.
If the data shows that people who won’t shoot up schools have certain commonalities that differentiate them from would-be shooters, can we change the Constitution for that? You never read about committed Christian kids shooting up schools do you? Probably never happen. Should we make Christianity mandatory in schools? FOR THE CHILDREN? Might work.
What about kids who are firebugs, or if they can’t get a gun will get a machete, or make a bomb? Evil doers find a way. Remember the Weather Underground? Not Christians, but these bomb makers and murderers were committed Communists.
In fact, most of these shooters are Left leaning, at least. I hesitate to say Democrats, because I know many fine people who are Democrats, but if Leftism was outlawed, schools might be safer–FOR THE CHILDREN.
My view of reality is reality based. It gets rough out there. I support the Second Amendment because I honestly believe children have a better chance of remaining free in a society where the average person has the right to bear arms. American Slaves could not bear arms. Ever wonder why? Irish people were forbidden from bearing arms by the British, and not long after was The Great Famine, or Irish Holocaust/Genocide, where fifteen million or so Irish people perished from hunger in a land that was a net producer and exporter of food during the worst of it.
Your life matters, my life matters. Don’t ever think that someone is not out there scheming to take it away from you if they perceive a benefit, or maybe they are just sociopaths who like to kill (it happens).
Live free or die? That is the choice we are faced with, but it is not really a choice. If we renounce our freedom for temporary safety, our physical deaths will soon follow, or the bill for our cowardice will be passed on to our children.
The three laws of Thermodynamics for Dummies:
- You Can’t Win
- You Can’t Break Even
- You Have to Play
Natural Laws trump human hubris every time.
I have written about this topic before here and here.
Congress of the United States begun and held at the City of New-York, on Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine.
THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.
RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.
ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.
Article the first… After the first enumeration required by the first article of the Constitution, there shall be one Representative for every thirty thousand, until the number shall amount to one hundred, after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall be not less than one hundred Representatives, nor less than one Representative for every forty thousand persons, until the number of Representatives shall amount to two hundred; after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall not be less than two hundred Representatives, nor more than one Representative for every fifty thousand persons.
Article the second… No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.
Article the third… Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Article the fourth… A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Article the fifth… No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Article the sixth… The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Article the seventh… No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Article the eighth… In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
Article the ninth… In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Article the tenth… Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Article the eleventh… The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Article the twelfth… The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
ATTEST,
Frederick Augustus Muhlenberg, Speaker of the House of Representatives
John Adams, Vice-President of the United States, and President of the Senate
John Beckley, Clerk of the House of Representatives.
Sam. A Otis Secretary of the Senate