Parente: Digging gun rights out of a State House Dumpster

[beevul]

My opponent was relentless. "And where is it written, that a man has the right to a private weapon? Where is that written?"

"I thought you would never ask." I responded and read from the book's withered pages:

"Whereas by a Resolve of the General Court of this State, past the 2nd of April 1778, for raising 1300 men for North River, it was among other Things resolved that every person who supply himself with a good firelock and bayonet, cartouche-box, haversack and blanket ... shall receive, agreeable to a resolve by the Congress, ... two dollars for the use of his firelock, bayonet and cartouche and two dollars for the use of his blanket and four dollars in like proportion for either of them."

According to the Acts and Resolves of 1779, "after producing proper vouchers they were so provided. It is my considered belief the farmers earned tacit approval of private gun ownership." In conclusion, I said, "Had not the farmers brought their private weapons to the Revolutionary War we might not be standing here today."

I called for a roll call vote. The proposal to restrict ownership of private weapons went down in flames.

Speaker McGee leaned over the rostrum, and said, "where did you find that one?"

I smiled and said, "The Dumpster, sir."

http://www.milforddailynews.com/opinion/x42388263/Parente-Digging-gun-rights-out-of-a-State-House-Dumpster

Marie Parente is a Democrat.

And this is quite interesting, and a worthwhile read.

All in all a neat story.

Enjoy. :toast: