The Second Amendment Does Not Guarantee The Right to Keep and Bear Arms

I wish that some of these people who are so damned critical of our way of life would go to their Governments and DEMAND that they repay their WW-II debts to the U. S.(It would sure lower our taxes). So far, not a dime from ANYBODY. Does welshing on a debt give them the right to dictate to us how we should live? Oh, yes, and there is the little matter of the FIRST World War debts...only Finland paid hers. I'm not usually too nice to people who have robbed me and made no apology, then hold out their hand for more.

Kory,
How old would you be? The reason I ask is that there are a lot of people that are 101st Airborne Vets that were present at Bastogne, who would probably disagree with you about the extent of American involvement in Belgium in WW2. The U.S. troops were the major force behind the liberation of Belgium. WW1? Everybody wanted us in it! Americans were serving in Allied uniforms from 1914 on. Some even went to Canada to join the WW1 RAF so that they could fight. What's your point about getting involved from the start? As far as America's Second Amendment rights, they were bequeathed to future generations of Americans by the Founding Fathers for a good reason. Private gun ownership is what has been a HUGE deterrent to any foriegn power invading our soil. Sure the British invaded in 1812, but they ended up getting their butts kicked by woodsmen with Squirrel Guns. Where would your country be if they couldn't have gotten their firearms from American manufacturers? Sure they had some from England, but what was more cost effective? Now as for the reason why the Allies wanted the Americans in WW1... America's industrial base. Same thing for WW2! America had the largest industrial base in the world during that time. So study up before you start throwing the "ugly American" thing in your posts.
John,
God, guns, and guts made America free! And the Second Amendment is a blanket statement " The right to keep and bear arms shall NOT be infringed!" There is no mention of age distinguishment. Mandatory WW1 Aviation content, a lot of the ammuntion for A/C guns was made in America! It was shipped to England via ships.
VBR,
Jim

[mike_baram]

I have a suggestion for everyone who thinks that having a gun invites violence.
If you're against guns, put a BIG sign in the front window of your house: "There are NO firearms on these premises."
Now, assuming (as the case is in America) that the police cannot prevent a crime, they can only come and remove the victims, tell me how safe you're going to feel when every thief and drug addict in town will know that you're defenseless.
The only deterrent to break-ins and assaults is the fear that there might be a weapon in the house, and no crook in his right mind wants to risk getting shot.

[Barrett]

Well, since Kommodore Scott hasn't shut down this thread on basis of relevance (!) I'll chime in, too.
In order for anyone to claim there's no individual right in the 2nd Amendment, they must also claim there's no individual right of "the people" in the 1st or 4th. (i.e., peaceably to assemble and express themselves and to be free from unreasonable search & seizure.)
Guns to Britain: interesting to note that c. 1943, after the threat of invasion had passed, the UK gov't took all the "loaners" and donated firearms from the US & dumped 'em in the Atlantic. Cawn't have the citizenry carrying firearms during wartime, don't you know...

To all: PLEASE read at least the first fiew Federal Court decisions on the 2nd as I have put down above. My whole point is that IT IS NOT THE SECOND AMENDMENT THAT GIVES US THE RIGHT TO KEEP AN BEAR ARMS. The decision of the High Court was that the right would remain even though the amendment disappeared, because it comes from Common Law, from a time long before the Constitution. PLEASE read at least that, and be well informed.

[Richard_Schrader]

Jim Ace;
Well said!

All,
In light of what Kory was referring to, about the "typical ugly American", I figure that it's time to set the record straight about Americans to those who think we have no right to feel unappreciated. To start off with, every time America has been looked to, called on, or asked to assist...she has. American's blood has been spilled in many diverse and remote spots around the world in the name of freedom. Much more, America has been called on so many times in this century to provide financial aid, and we have done so. I wonder what the West Berliners thought of American's when the Soviets blockaded east Germany and Berlin in 1948? After all it was by and large the American Air Force that kept food available to the West Berliners in that critical time. What did the South Koreans think of the Americans when we pushed the Communist forces back up to North Korea and kept them out of South Korea after the Korean war in 1951? Also the rescue missions flown to the Belgian Congo when the Mau-mau uprising occurred? What DID the Belgian people think of the Americans who came to Belgium in WW2 and freed them from the Nazi yoke of oppression? And the French, and the English whom depended on us for their existence during the darkest hours of that war? And after the war, whose money played a large part in the rebuilding of the European and the Far Eastern parts of the world. How about the Australians who watched when the Japanese were knocking on their door by occupying Port Moresby, and when the fleet went out to give battle to the Imperial Japanese Navy colossus in the Coral Sea? Or more recently our neighbors to the south (Mexico) when they've had the hurricanes hit? Or Kuwaitis when we led the coalition forces that drove out the Iraquis? Does all this assistance and help from our largess REALLY "entitle" us to be subjected to disparagement and ridicule when we mention these facts. Sure there are some "ugly Americans", but when an individual classifies a fellow countryman as a typical ugly American, just because he's stating facts...well I tend to take offense at it. In fact if this neighbor to the north would just take a step back and compare contributions, he might see that Americans have earned their bragging rights. If he's not familiar with all of these things, then ask him who was the first line of defense when the Cold War with it's nuclear threat was in full swing? I don't think that Canada had the capability to provide that first line of defense (you know ICBM's, the Dew Line, Strategic Air Command). Now for our double jeopardy round, the category is "Who posesses the world's largest Navy?" Gee Alex... that answer would be "What is the United States?" Sorry, just was ranting, I'll shut up for now.
VBR,
Jim

[mike_baram]

I wonder how many of the people who castigate Americans with the term "Ugly American" have ever read the book from which that phrase comes.
The "Ugly American" in the novel was the good guy. He and his wife worked at the grass roots level in an Asian country to improve the lives of the people.
Ahhh, semantics.

[wings]

Americans have done many good, noble things, but their addiction to guns is a sickness that is killing them.

Bernard and Mike,

You two are kind of arguing different points. First Mike, you said
<<Now, assuming (as the case is in America) that the police cannot prevent a crime, they can only come and remove the victims, tell me how safe you're going to feel when every thief and drug addict in town will know that you're defenseless.>>

In a society of no guns, where is your average drug addict going to lay his hands on a weapon? So the criminal doesn't have a gun, and the citizen doesn't have a gun. So no one gets hurt. In your situation, someone is going to get shot.

You guys are too deeply entrenched in a gun culture. There is no way that taking away legal weapons would lower violence in the US. But Bernard, you and I live in societies where having a gun DOES invite violence. In the US as Mike said, it merely deters it.

And I know which society I would prefer to live in.

Regards,

Simon

BTW of course Australia is not completely gun free... But anything badder than a bolt-action rifle is illegal. And I know only one family where a gun is kept in the house, and it certainly is not there for protection purposes.