Gun owners today are being assaulted from many angles, the government, media, the ignorant. At every turn we cringe, waiting for the big hammer to drop, the gun grab to start. While we wait our Second Amendment right is being eroded away, like a stone in a stream. But I have found that most of us don’t even understand the reason for the Second Amendment.
Every American should know why we own and have the right to own firearms. We do not have the Second Amendment to hunt, we do not have it for personal protection, we do not have it for any sport, it has nothing to do with being an outdoorsman, although these are some of its subsequent benefits. The Second Amendment is present to protect the First Amendment. You see, the colonists had just fought a war for 8 years prior to drafting the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The war was started when King George sent his troops to confiscate their firearms and powder. The First Amendment contains the principles to be protected by the new Constitution, the freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from worship, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, petitioning the governmental redress of grievences. The founding fathers knew from experience that First Amendment meant nothing without a way to protect it from enemies, both foreign and domestic. So you see, the First Amendment is who we are. The Second is what keeps us that way.
If we would present this argument when the Second Amendment is challenged there is but one retort, the "that will never happen in the United States" argument. To this argument you answer "what, you mean the government would never confiscate our firearms like King George was attempting to do to the colonists? If he had succeeded would we have ever been the United States?" That will usually send people in a tailspin. Anyone you are having this argument with aims to take away your guns already!
There are many variations on this retort but it is very weak. History is replete with governments confiscating the citizenry’s weapons. More often than not this regime then goes on to horrendously oppress its people, murder dissidents, and finally collapse into the ash heap of history.
Please folks, know that protecting the First Amendment is the REAL reason we have the right to bear arms, everything else that stems from this right is a fringe benefit.
Every American should know why we own and have the right to own firearms. We do not have the Second Amendment to hunt, we do not have it for personal protection, we do not have it for any sport, it has nothing to do with being an outdoorsman, although these are some of its subsequent benefits. The Second Amendment is present to protect the First Amendment. You see, the colonists had just fought a war for 8 years prior to drafting the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The war was started when King George sent his troops to confiscate their firearms and powder. The First Amendment contains the principles to be protected by the new Constitution, the freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from worship, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, petitioning the governmental redress of grievences. The founding fathers knew from experience that First Amendment meant nothing without a way to protect it from enemies, both foreign and domestic. So you see, the First Amendment is who we are. The Second is what keeps us that way.
If we would present this argument when the Second Amendment is challenged there is but one retort, the "that will never happen in the United States" argument. To this argument you answer "what, you mean the government would never confiscate our firearms like King George was attempting to do to the colonists? If he had succeeded would we have ever been the United States?" That will usually send people in a tailspin. Anyone you are having this argument with aims to take away your guns already!
There are many variations on this retort but it is very weak. History is replete with governments confiscating the citizenry’s weapons. More often than not this regime then goes on to horrendously oppress its people, murder dissidents, and finally collapse into the ash heap of history.
Please folks, know that protecting the First Amendment is the REAL reason we have the right to bear arms, everything else that stems from this right is a fringe benefit.
