General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The 2nd Amendment was NOT written "to protect us from our gov't," FFS... [View all]Atypical Liberal
(5,412 posts)Look, I am as in as much anguish over these children as nearly any bystander. I've lost sleep over it.
My ideas on the second amendment are changing.
But there are some realities that are still realities, and they are going to have to be addressed, not puttied over with falsehoods for convenience.
The second amendment states "arms". It does not state "arms of the 18th century".
The idea behind the second amendment is that the people were to keep and bear arms that enable them to serve as military troops in an emergency. In the 18th century, that was a muzzleloader (not breechloader). Today, that is a modern rifle.
None of the other rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights are limited to 18th century technology. We still have freedom of speech using computers. We still have the right to valid searches and seizures with telephones and automobiles.