The Supreme Court has ruled that the words in the Constitution mean what the Founding Fathers said they meant, and we can’t go changing or amending the Constitution by giving new meanings or new shades of meaning to the words.
Gun Sales Soar From Stimulus And Biden’s Gun Control Plan .
Biden’s plan is to restrict assault weapons like the AR-556 pistol from Sturm, Ruger that was allegedly used by the Boulder gunman. But the violence has also prompted a rise in gun sales, and retailers have reported that they’re seeing more Asian-American gun buyers, seeking protection from hate crimes.
Since the start of the pandemic, more than 8.4 million Americans have purchased guns for the first time, according to estimates from the gun industry group, the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
“Americans continue to vote with their wallets when it comes to lawful firearm ownership,” said Mark Oliva, director of public affairs for the NSSF. “March’s record background checks shows that President Biden’s demand to enact a ban on AR-15s and the push by Democrats to enact laws that would deny Americans their rights is out of step with Main Street, U.S.A.”
The gun purchases have led to nationwide shortages in ammunition. Every gun retailer interviewed by Forbes is rationing ammunition purchases and some calibers are unavailable.
“Gun control” is not a function of the government. A broad statement you might counter, after all, the 2nd amendment specifically cites “a well regulated militia”.
You’ve got to understand what the militia is. In May of 1792, five months after the adoption of the 2nd Amendment, the Militia Act was passed.
That act distinguished between the enrolled militia and the organized militia. Before the passing- of that act, there was only the enrolled militia, which was the body of all able-bodied men between the ages of 17 and 44, inclusively, and it is that militia to which the 2nd Amendment refers.
It couldn’t refer to the organized militia because it didn’t exist yet. The 2nd Amendment was to ensure that this body of citizens is armed and that’s why the Founding Fathers thought to place it in the Bill of Rights. Legally, both militias still exist.
You might respond; “So, you’re also saying only people between 17 and 44 are allowed guns, right?”
No, that’s just the ages of the body of men constituting the militia. The amendment says the people can both keep and bear arms.
It’s usually been construed to mean all the people.
The law hasn’t changed, but even if we decide the word means something new to us, you can’t use the new definition to change the intent of the amendment.
The Supreme Court has ruled that the words in the Constitution mean what the Founding Fathers said they meant, and we can’t go changing or amending the Constitution by giving new meanings or new shades of meaning to the words.
And, if you think about it, it makes sense; otherwise, our rights really mean nothing. Congress or any other governing body can deny you the right to free speech, freedom of religion, a trial by jury, or whatever else it wanted just by claiming the words now have a new meaning. An oppressive government could change the Constitution without ever having to go through the bothersome ritual of submitting it to us, the people, for our approval.
And, in the end, the Constitution and, in particular, the Bill of Rights are there for our protection, not for the benefit of the government or those who run it.
(…to be continued)
