Virginia Tech anniversary creates difficult moment on gun control for lawmakers

[Atypical Liberal]

12. Reasons why.

The reality here is clear: the Constitution states that public safety/general welfare are of public interest and that there is a right to keep and bear arms within the context of "a well-regulated Militia."

Of course we have had this discussion many times before.

All nine Supreme Court justices and President Obama have all agreed that the right to keep and bear arms is an individual right regardless of membership in any organization such as a militia.

Also, as you know, the militias spoken of in the Constitution - decentralized, state-controlled military forces designed to counter federal military power, no longer exist.

For all practical and legal purposes, you need to face the reality that the preambulatory phrase of the second amendment does not exist.

The courts and the president have upheld that you don't have to be in a militia to keep and bear arms, and there is no militia to belong to if you wanted to.

Can anyone tell me why we haven't done better in this country? Can anyone tell me why we cannot do better in this country? Can anyone tell me why we shouldn't do better in this country?

If by "better" you mean why can't you have more gun control, the answer is simple: you are on the losing side of this issue. The public is against you, and the 40-80 million gun owners are against you and highly politically motivated. We vote and we spend to defend our rights. Your side can't vote or spend to match. Thus you lose.