Mpffffff... Here is the 2nd Amendment in full, as written:
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free
State, the right of the People to keep and bear Arms, shall not be
infringed.
What with three commas, it may be parsed in any number of ways. Keep
in mind also that at the time, "arms" consisted of single-shot muzzle
loading pistols, rifles and cannon, the very best shooters could get
off perhaps three shots in a minute (fewer if accuracy counted). And,
as it happened, "people" consisted of male property owners... all of
whom were technically eligble for the "Militia".
Actually, it is my personal belief as a gun owner that any individual
ought to be able to own any weapon whatsoever right up to tactical
nukes - provided that they insure them appropriately. Much as about
any individual may own about any vehicle they choose - as long a they
insure it appropriately. I own several weapons (one of which does
happen to be a functional muzzle-loader), all properly insured, and
all of them carrying a policy that covers me should they be stolen and
used in a crime. A few bucks a year additional on our property
insurance but it does give peace-of-mind.
But about every Swiss household has a fully automatic weapon in it.
Canada has a higher per-capita owner****p level (fewer guns per capita,
but more individuals owning them), they are simply less prone to using
them badly, it seems. And Americans (the home of the Hummer) just like
doing things in a big way, even if that big-way is eventually just
stupid.
Peter Wieck
Melrose Park, PA
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