Violators of gun laws should be prosecuted to the fullest, rather than restricting the rights of lawful citizens

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by Robin Reiley

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You must look back to the beginning of our Nation to understand the issue of gun Laws.
The Bill of Rights was demanded by the People of the Various states,before the our Constitution could be ratified.The basic Articles of the Constitution,sought to create a Central Government,to represent and protect our collection of States when dealing with commerce between the States and other Countries.
Most laws that affected the sovereign citizens of these States were enacted on the State level.A split developed between those who wanted a very limited Federal Government,and those who wanted a strong concentration of powers at the Federal level.
After having fought a Revolution against Britain,to free ourselves from the arbitrary rule of a King (or Queen),there were those who sought to install George Washington at the head of our Nation as a King for Life! Thankfully he declined.
With all the language of Equality and Liberty,the Constitution really only represented the interests of the Free,White,Male,Land owners,these being the only people allowed to vote.Each State had it's own Constitution,and it's own philosophy on how power should be administered.Many months went by in Philadelphia at the Constitutional Convention,with many votes ending in a stalemate.
Only by the addition of the First Ten Amendments,The Bill of Rights,could an agreement be hammered out that the representatives feel comfortable bringing back to their own States for Ratification.
These Amendments were not "Granted" by the Government,but were recognized as being true and natural rights,bestowed on the People by The Creator,and not subject to the whims of the Elected or any other body.
In an effort to ensure that no Power,Domestic or Foreign could ever take away these Rights,The Second Amendment provided the common man the tools to protect all the other Rights that they had secured.The language referring to a Militia,must be seen through the definition common from that era.The Militia basically meant all men able to Bear Arms in the Common Defense.Not a Standing Army,or State National Guard.Well Regulated is also part of the Amendment.All this meant was that the Militia would choose and elect from among it's ranks,it's own Officers,to train,and lead them in the protection of the People.
Until the Civil War,each County or City would raise,equip and train it's own Militia to defend the common good.During the Civil War,the idea of a Draft was enacted.This was by no means evenly applied to all citizens.One could pay a fee not to go,pay another to go in ones place,or force an indentured servant to fight instead.The poor could not afford this luxury.In New York City,over 10,000 protesters were killed in the "Draft Riots".
When all is said and done,the Second Amendment is the final Right retained by The People to resist the ambitions of Tyrants.An un-armed citizen can easily be turned into a slave.An armed citizen can resist and deter the corruption that occurs with power in the hands of the few.I won't even discuss the rights or needs of hunters and what kind of weapons they should be allowed to own.The Second Amendment is about the Defense of the Common Man,his community,and his family,not about deer hunting.

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