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The Second Amendment protects the right to bear arms.
 The right to keep and bare arms. This is how the second amendment begins. If the founding fathers had said “a right” then the constitution would have been creating something new, but because the wording is “the right”, it refers to something that already exists and is only being put on paper so we can all know that this right has been and will be ours throughout history. As far back as 2000 years ago Jesus said, “But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. Luke 22 : 36. In those times home defense was a sword.
Benjamin Franklin was the first person to organize a militia unit. He was concerned because the state of Pennsylvania had no money for weapons or gun powder and he wanted to defend against the coming British invasion. As our federal government economic concerns worsen we need to be ever vigilant. Our borders are very porous and the drugs and illegal immigrants are making our society less safe from crime and other possible invasions of our homes. After the Civil War, W.W.I, W.W.II, Korea, Viet Nam, and Desert Storm we cut our armed forces. The most recent cut in our armed forces was called a peace dividend by President Clinton. Do you think we could use a couple more infantry divisions today to help take the burden of multiple deployments from our Reserve and National Guard units? In Switzerland when their soldiers finish with their training exercises their soldiers take their weapons home with them, along with their other equipment.
The Judicial System and some political leaders continue to limit our second amendment rights even though it is clear in the language of the Second Amendment that these rights are not to be abridged. In Washington DC the law makes it impossible to have a firearm as a private citizen. Since those laws went into effect, crime has risen by 100% in Washington DC. This only shows that criminals prefer unarmed victims. We have a right to defend our life, liberty and property.
Some people argue the second amendment is a right. Some argue it is a privilege. I do not consider the second amendment a right or a privilege, I consider the right to keep and bear arms a duty. As a soldier I fired many weapon systems 4.2 inch mortars, M60A2 main battle tank, 50 Cal. Machine Gun, M-60 Machine Gun, etc. The Army made me spend weeks learning everything about the weapons before they let me fire one. The Army also taught me a “code of conduct”. This is part of that duty, to educate ourselves about our weapon but also to educate ourselves morally as well. I know what weapons can do and I respect their power. With great power comes great responsibility. I trust the citizens of the United States with their second amendment rights.
Michael Nance
Candidate for assembly district 32
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