Does the Second Amendment guarantee an individual right to own and possess handguns? Yes, ruled the U.S. Supreme Court on June 26, 2008.

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. – Second Amendment

 

Our founders, leaders of our revolt against King George of England, understood the principle of limited government, great and terrible powers in the hands of a few. With this understanding, they crafted a constitution that preserved states’ sovereignty while striving to unite them for common defense.

“In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem. From time to time we’ve been tempted to believe that society has become too complex to be managed by self-rule, that government by an elite group is superior to government for, by, and of the people. Well, if no one among us is capable of governing himself, then who among us has the capacity to govern someone else? All of us together, in and out of government, must bear the burden.” – Ronald Reagan

 

It became apparent to all that we needed a better form of central government with enumerated, therefore limited, powers, while reserving general authority to the sovereign states.

Leaving a discussion of the process for another time, let’s recall that our Constitution came into being on September 17, 1787. James Madison introduced the first ten amendments, the Bill of Rights, two years later and they became effective on December 15, 1791. While the states ratified the first ten amendments with imperfections regarding slaves, it was superior to any other framework of law on the face of the earth.

A simple reading of the Bill of Rights leaves one with this distinct, unmistakable idea: they were created to protect us from government.

The National Right to Carry Act (H.R. 822) supported by the National Rifle Association (and, I am a member of several years) overrides the Second Amendment and would cede general authority of the states to the federal government.

Already in place are reciprocating agreements between states that allow concealed-carry permits of one state to be honored in others.

I ask you to contact your member of Congress and ask him/her to OPPOSE H.R. 822. Who represents you? Click on this convenient link to find your U. S. Representative. It’s easy and it cost nothing to send the message.