COLUMNS The Second Amendment's true purpose

Doc Halliday

Before we delve into the true purpose of the Second Amendment, I would like to discuss the issue of training. When our daughter was 14 years old, we allowed her to get a separate phone line in her room. This was of course decades prior to the advent of cell phones. As part of the "deal", she was required to open a checking account, pay the monthly bill, and balance the checking account. It was an opportunity to teach her about money and the responsibility to balance the account; training. When this same daughter was 16 years old, she wanted to obtain a driver's license. Again, she was trained. She was trained not just in driving the vehicle, but in changing a tire and jump starting a vehicle.



Would you allow one of your children to use a power saw or even an electric blender without training? The more complex and potentially dangerous the tool is the more training that may be required. And with this in mind, I do advocate training in the possession and use of firearms. But, I believe it is the parents' responsibility to train their children, whether it is in the use of a hand held axe or a firearm. A century ago, the vast majority of homes had both a shotgun and a .22 rifle behind the kitchen door. There were no accidents to speak of, because parents trained their children. A parent may delegate training to a third party (paid or unpaid), but the ultimate responsibility lies with the parents.



There are five options of discussion concerning the Second Amendment, and the right to possess firearms. The last three options are of particular interest to those currently debating the purpose of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.



The first of these, in the order I would like to present them, is collecting. This is the interest of collecting firearms for their aesthetic, historical and perhaps monetary values. This would be no different than collecting teaspoons, dolls or automobile license plates. Many people derive enjoyment from the pursuit of these hobbies.



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2014-Dec-31 More... The second option is for target shooting. As a sport, this is no different than playing golf, tennis or bowling. Some people do not understand the purpose of attempting to hit a small ball with a stick, and thus drive it into a hole a couple of hundred yards away. However, these people do not attempt to restrict the number of golf balls a golfer is allowed to carry.



The third option is hunting. It is important to note that the new United States was a mostly rural society with the vast majority of its citizens relying on hunting to supplement what food was grown or purchased. The thought that our Founding Fathers would waste ink to preserve our right to hunt is ludicrous. They might just as well have stated that We the People have the right to breathe!



The fourth option is self-defense. While there were police of sorts in the new United States, there were very few. Most were more like night watchman to protect against fires during the night, and of course to raise the alarm in the event of an attack by hostiles. Each family was expected to defend itself, and also participate in the defense of the community. Similar to hunting, the thought that our Founding Fathers would waste ink to preserve our right for self-defense is preposterous. For those who are under the false impression that the slogan "To Protect and Serve" is anything but false advertising, I would point out that in 2005, The Supreme Court ruled that police do not have a constitutional duty to protect a person from harm. Try calling your local police and ask them to escort you to the local mall while you shop so that they can protect you. Go ahead, call and ask.



While I believe that citizens have the right to possess firearms for each of these first four reasons, it is the fifth purpose that prompted our Founding Fathers to include the Second Amendment in the Bill of Rights. Before I expound upon this, I would like to take you back in time. Think back to April of 1775. Don't jump ahead to April 19th when the battles at Lexington and Concord took place. Think instead of April 14th when British General Gage received his orders to disarm the rebels. Those orders were not to confiscate rebel rifles and muskets, but rather state of the art military weapons; powder and canon. Keep this information in context. The Second Amendment was meant to provide the people with state of the art military weapons. We the People do have the right to these same state of the art military weapons, precisely because the Second Amendment is meant to allow the overthrow of the government if (when) it becomes necessary. If our military can have it, you should be able to have it also!



Thus, all restrictions on the possession of firearms, including registration, should be unconstitutional in my opinion.



I can already hear people screaming that we must also restrict who is allowed to possess firearms, but why? Let's punish those who commit a crime, rather than outlaw the possession of a tool that might be used to commit a crime. Or do you desire to outlaw automobiles also?



And please don't start the issue of preventing those with a mental illness from possessing firearms. This is a slippery slope meant to prevent all civilians from the possession of firearms. Already, the Department of Defense is stating that every person who served in the military has some form of PTSD. How many women have suffered from postpartum depression? Have you ever suffered the loss of a loved one? Have you been depressed over; a divorce, the loss of a job, or even a close friend that moved away? Maybe you have had cabin fever after being cooped up in your house for days during a severe snowstorm. Attempts to restrict those with a mental illness from possessing firearms will drive those people away from the medical help they may need. Other dictatorships have used this method to eliminate firearms from civilian ownership.



The Second Amendment is our guarantee to have the necessary tools to overthrow the government if (when) it becomes necessary to do so. Each and every attempt to restrict this right brings us closer to the day when this right will be needed.



Any discussion on this subject should be steered to the accurate determination of our Founding Fathers. We should not allow a discussion of this vital subject to be directed away from the real intent of these prescient gentlemen.



Doc Halliday is an author, columnist and consultant who resides in Marshall, Texas. He may be contacted by mail at: P. O. Box 1551, Marshall, TX 75671; or by email at: w_halliday@yahoo.com Before we delve into the true purpose of the Second Amendment, I would like to discuss the issue of training. When our daughter was 14 years old, we allowed her to get a separate phone line in her room. This was of course decades prior to the advent of cell phones. As part of the "deal", she was required to open a checking account, pay the monthly bill, and balance the checking account. It was an opportunity to teach her about money and the responsibility to balance the account; training. When this same daughter was 16 years old, she wanted to obtain a driver's license. Again, she was trained. She was trained not just in driving the vehicle, but in changing a tire and jump starting a vehicle.Would you allow one of your children to use a power saw or even an electric blender without training? The more complex and potentially dangerous the tool is the more training that may be required. And with this in mind, I do advocate training in the possession and use of firearms. But, I believe it is the parents' responsibility to train their children, whether it is in the use of a hand held axe or a firearm. A century ago, the vast majority of homes had both a shotgun and a .22 rifle behind the kitchen door. There were no accidents to speak of, because parents trained their children. A parent may delegate training to a third party (paid or unpaid), but the ultimate responsibility lies with the parents.There are five options of discussion concerning the Second Amendment, and the right to possess firearms. The last three options are of particular interest to those currently debating the purpose of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.The first of these, in the order I would like to present them, is collecting. This is the interest of collecting firearms for their aesthetic, historical and perhaps monetary values. This would be no different than collecting teaspoons, dolls or automobile license plates. Many people derive enjoyment from the pursuit of these hobbies.The second option is for target shooting. As a sport, this is no different than playing golf, tennis or bowling. Some people do not understand the purpose of attempting to hit a small ball with a stick, and thus drive it into a hole a couple of hundred yards away. However, these people do not attempt to restrict the number of golf balls a golfer is allowed to carry.The third option is hunting. It is important to note that the new United States was a mostly rural society with the vast majority of its citizens relying on hunting to supplement what food was grown or purchased. The thought that our Founding Fathers would waste ink to preserve our right to hunt is ludicrous. They might just as well have stated that We the People have the right to breathe!The fourth option is self-defense. While there were police of sorts in the new United States, there were very few. Most were more like night watchman to protect against fires during the night, and of course to raise the alarm in the event of an attack by hostiles. Each family was expected to defend itself, and also participate in the defense of the community. Similar to hunting, the thought that our Founding Fathers would waste ink to preserve our right for self-defense is preposterous. For those who are under the false impression that the slogan "To Protect and Serve" is anything but false advertising, I would point out that in 2005, The Supreme Court ruled that police do not have a constitutional duty to protect a person from harm. Try calling your local police and ask them to escort you to the local mall while you shop so that they can protect you. Go ahead, call and ask.While I believe that citizens have the right to possess firearms for each of these first four reasons, it is the fifth purpose that prompted our Founding Fathers to include the Second Amendment in the Bill of Rights. Before I expound upon this, I would like to take you back in time. Think back to April of 1775. Don't jump ahead to April 19th when the battles at Lexington and Concord took place. Think instead of April 14th when British General Gage received his orders to disarm the rebels. Those orders were not to confiscate rebel rifles and muskets, but rather state of the art military weapons; powder and canon. Keep this information in context. The Second Amendment was meant to provide the people with state of the art military weapons. We the People do have the right to these same state of the art military weapons, precisely because the Second Amendment is meant to allow the overthrow of the government if (when) it becomes necessary. If our military can have it, you should be able to have it also!Thus, all restrictions on the possession of firearms, including registration, should be unconstitutional in my opinion.I can already hear people screaming that we must also restrict who is allowed to possess firearms, but why? Let's punish those who commit a crime, rather than outlaw the possession of a tool that might be used to commit a crime. Or do you desire to outlaw automobiles also?And please don't start the issue of preventing those with a mental illness from possessing firearms. This is a slippery slope meant to prevent all civilians from the possession of firearms. Already, the Department of Defense is stating that every person who served in the military has some form of PTSD. How many women have suffered from postpartum depression? Have you ever suffered the loss of a loved one? Have you been depressed over; a divorce, the loss of a job, or even a close friend that moved away? Maybe you have had cabin fever after being cooped up in your house for days during a severe snowstorm. Attempts to restrict those with a mental illness from possessing firearms will drive those people away from the medical help they may need. Other dictatorships have used this method to eliminate firearms from civilian ownership.The Second Amendment is our guarantee to have the necessary tools to overthrow the government if (when) it becomes necessary to do so. Each and every attempt to restrict this right brings us closer to the day when this right will be needed.Any discussion on this subject should be steered to the accurate determination of our Founding Fathers. We should not allow a discussion of this vital subject to be directed away from the real intent of these prescient gentlemen.Doc Halliday is an author, columnist and consultant who resides in Marshall, Texas. He may be contacted by mail at: P. O. Box 1551, Marshall, TX 75671; or by email at: w_halliday@yahoo.com

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