To the Editor:
The second amendment needs to be re-defined for the modern times.
It is my notion that the right to bear arms is very similar to the right to smoke; they both have a cancerous effect that contributes to the decay in modern society. We as a society can continue to ignore and look the other way with temporary fixes that give the appearance of seriousness; however, the reality is: there are too many guns in the US; and our too-many-guns are being turned on us.
I believe all the suggested legislation on the table as of now might make it difficult to sell certain weapons; yet, it does not address the ability to steal weapons and really determine what type of individual will snap and commit violence. In my opinion, unless the second amendment is re-defined for the modern times, all legislative attempts to reduce violence may be futile.
Alfred Waddell, West Dennis, MA
Alfred, you are wrong in so many ways. Where in the Bill of Rights do you find the right to smoke? However the right to bear arms is there. Have you ever wondered what the Declaration of Independence meant when it stated “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights”? Do you know what unalienable means? You can not surrender, sell or transfer unalienable rights, they are a gift from the creator to the individual and can not under any circumstances be surrendered or taken.
Give up on your dream to change anything in the Bill of Rights, it just won’t happen.
Alfred, you sir are clearly uneducated both historically and in the context of why we have a second amendment. You should start your research by reading Thomas Jefferson’s Federalist papers, number 46. Many, many politicians of the time CLEARLY stated why we have a 2nd Amendment.
If you think its time to revise the 2nd amendment, why not start with the 1st amendment or others? Clearly the media abuses their “rights” to free speech.
There are consequences of gun ownership but our precious Republic is based on being able to fight tyrannical governments should it ever happen.
We, this generation, may not need arms to fight said tyrannical government but some day, it will happen. History ALWAYS repeats itself. There is NOT one single government / empire / regime that has survived the test of time! Don’t be foolish to think ours is different. The day will come.
We are less violent than Great Brittany, look at the stats, its true, regardless of what Piers says. Great Britain is the 2nd most violent crime ridden country in the E.U..
Enforce laws that we have. The liberals are using American’s tender heart to push their agenda. Shame on them. First comes registration of all guns then comes confiscation, look up and listen to Nazi survivor Kitty Werthmann’s video. You are following the pied piper just as the Austrians did.
You want to get amend the 2nd amendment? How about enforce laws, even if it means more taxes to hire more law enforcement.
Don’t tread on me.