The NRA.

"In 1972, Justice William O. Douglas wrote...the Second Amendment was simply designed to keep alive the militia."

All hail Justice William O. Douglas. Was he in the room when the second amendment was drafted? If he was, I'll agree with nanny Anderson...if he wasn't, this is just his opinion. Everyone has one of those.

150 years ago, SCOTUS declared that Dred Scott and his wife remain slaves- Who do you believe, the Supreme Court or God?

Does the phrase "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed" mean all the people except civilians? How could that be? Where "the people" is used elsewhere in the Constitution, it refers to all Americans, Mr(s). Anderson, not just some elite. Try rereading the constitution, and replace the word "people" or person with some group that is sanctioned only by governmental controls. It doesn't work. How are you going to be able to muster a militia if no one knows, or was taught, to defend their families.

ps- I was taught to respect and become proficient with many types of firearms by my father- a military retiree who hated war and violence. He had no use for the NRA, as he thought it would eventually become a bloated, useless social club. He taught me that if I loved life and the lives of those around me, I should be ever vigilant and be prepared to defend them. He told me that someone smarter than him said "no greater love hath a man than to lay down his life for another".
He was right about everything he ever taught me save one-
I am a long time member of the NRA- I will continue to monitor the acitvities that we pursue. Those members that I know are not controlled by the NRA nor do we take "talking points" from the association. We are responsible, caring Americans who are excercising our God given rights. I hear the drumbeat of socialism in your call to smear law abiding Americans as out of step with the Constitution.

I will discharge an extra brace of .44 magnums at the range in your honor.

Seems justice Douglas had a conflicted mind-

When a legislature undertakes to proscribe the exercise of a citizen's constitutional rights it acts lawlessly and the citizen can take matters into his own hands and proceed on the basis that such a law is no law at all.

W.O.Douglas

Douglas speaks my mind.....

"Who is right: The National Rifle Association or the Supreme Court? You decide."

As we know, President Bush is the decider. So this is NOT a decision ex cathedra, E.F. Anderson, but as you have instructed me to do so, I will:

On this question, the National Rifle Association is right.

Kitty Cat,
Just so you don't embarrass yourself more, Anderson was talking about Justice Douglas, and not "Oliver Wendell Douglas" from Green Acres!
Which character in Hooterville was modeled on you, Fred Ziffle, or Mr. Kimball?

TLC, do not disgrace the memories of those two wonderful characters from funny program by comparing them to that one! That deserves some "time out" time TLC!

The context of this LTTE is plain to me. I agree that the 2nd Amendment was written to keep a "standing army." I do not feel that it was included so that people had guns to do as they wished. Remember in that time period most family's had at least one "long gun" which was used to provide meat on the table!

The "guns" the NRA seeks to keep in the hands of the people have no need there. I am not against a person owning a "long gun" with which to hunt game; as long as that game is used as a food source. And to have a gun with which to sport shoot is fine by me as well. However, guns for other purposes in the hands of the general population causes me great concern.

If we humans would walk humbly with our fellow humans, there would be no need for guns whatsoever. That is a principle that needs to be learned/sought!

Shalom

Looks like the Canadian wuss is the one watching too much television...and the limp wristed pansies that parrot him. :]

"If we humans would walk humbly with our fellow humans, there would be no need for guns whatsoever. That is a principle that needs to be learned/sought"

Platitudes be damned- there will always be predators in society- I will keep my promise to defend my family against them- while others may succumb to unopposed savagery.

Jesus instructed us to sell a garment and buy a sword- I will take him at his word, rather than those who will select portions of his missive to support a bankrupt world view.

Your "long gun" theory is both wrong and undefensible- those long guns were the assault rifles the British came for.

Your pulpit is built on sand. The Constitution is the secular rock God gave us upon which free Americans will stand.

To refresh fading memories, lest we forget:

Ned,
This is a great letter and I share your thoughts. As I contemplate another international trip with my family, I am even more disturbed at our standing in the world. While visiting London and France, we sewed Canadian flag patches to our backpacks---it saved us from the ire of many and we met many new friends through that act. I only wish we did not have to do that again.
Thanks again for your letter.

Posted by THE LIBERAL CONSERVATIVE

Ain't she sweet... :]

WJE, so says you.

The "sword" to which Jesus referred was not a literal one, rather a spiritual one. Had Jesus meant a literal "sword" then why did same Jesus not call for a literal sword when he was taken by the Romans and then executed? I will not hold my breath waiting upon a rational and reasonable answer to that question.

Shalom

Wow, so I don't have a right to own a gun unless I'm in a militia? Somebody explain this to me.

What? didn't you get the memo, Brian?

The second amendment, notwithstanding it's placement in the Bill of Rights, grants the government the authority to raise an army, and me the fabulous right to serve in their army, whether by choice or conscription.

So, according to Darryl, my individual right that the second gave me was the right to join or be forced into the army! Huzzah!

I am glad that the second exists. Truly, because if it didn't, how could we have an army? What about Iran? I don't know why we are afraid of them, they don't really have an army. I am pretty sure that they don't have a second ammendment, so how could their citizens serve in the military in that case? What a bunch of losers, their citizens cannot even serve in the military, or, if they do so, they surely wouldn't be able to cary guns while serving.

Thank you, founding fathers, for the granting me the right to join the army!

O.K. I decided, I vote for the NRA!

"The "sword" to which Jesus referred was not a literal one, rather a spiritual one. Had Jesus meant a literal "sword" then why did same Jesus not call for a literal sword when he was taken by the Romans and then executed? I will not hold my breath waiting upon a rational and reasonable answer to that question"
How much does a spiritual sword cost? It appear one was able to purchase spiritual protection for the cost of a garment... pretty good deal. Were the sack and scrip also some type of spiritual parapernalia? All three were mentioned in the same passage. I think you are twisting Jesus' words. When He asked how many swords they had, and the answer was two, he told the disciples that that was sufficient. Doesn't sound like only two spiritual swords would be sufficient. But I could be wrong- one of his disciples cut off the soldiers ear with what? A spiritual sword? In case the idea eludes you, if the disciples had fought the soldiers, then the inevitable would have been delayed. You have taken the truth and twisted it into some kind of strange fantasy.
Now it is up to me to await your reply- should make for interesting reading.