Reply #41: The People

[Spica]

The Preamble states, "We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union...

Amendment I states, "Congress shall make no law repecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free speech 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."

Amendment II states, "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."

Amemdment IV, "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers,..."

Amendment IX, "The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage other retained by the people."

Amendment X, "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."

Unless all the other amendments use a different meaning for people your argument is untrue. The statement "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms" is crystal clear in its reference to the citizens of the United States. Otherwise all the other amendments don't apply to the people in general either. The founders and authors of the constitution were very explicit in their use of common language to avoid confusion as to meaning.

As for when "the guard needs to be armed they can hop in their cars and go get their issued weapon." What happens in a disaster when things break down? Witness the recent events in New Orleans. I'll relate an antecdote I've heard repeated many times. A writer on his way West was outfitting in St. Louis for his trip into the wilds of Western America. He asked the clerk in the mercantile, he was making his purchases in, if he would need a gun. The clerk said to him, I don't know, but I do know that if you need one you will need it really, really quick.

You offer nothing to my search for a time or event that answers the question I have been asked. I appreciate your feelings but they are not a logical answer.