GUNS AND A GREATER THREAT

There is a large cry in much our government today to dis-arm law abiding citizens.  This stems from criminals who use guns to commit unlawful acts.  It seems an absurd cry however, because as soon as someone uses a gun illegally, governmental leaders want to solve the problem by taking away the guns of those who did nothing illegal!  This is a huge disconnect in my mind!

So what is the greater threat?  Someone who uses a gun inappropriately, or a tyrannical government?  The founders of our Country understood tyranny was the greater threat.  Both the Federalists and anti-Federalists understood the connection between liberty and arms, having had first hand experience with the countries they came from.


Noah Webster stated:

"Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every
Kingdom of Europe. The Supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the
sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to
any bands of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States."  (Noah Webster, An examination into the leading principles of the Federal Constitution proposed by the late convention at Philadelphia 43.)

You see, the right to keep and bear arms has nothing to do with hunting.  It has everything to do with liberty and the protection of freedom.  This also includes tyrannical approaches by our government against its citizens.  This is not an undisciplined comment designed to incite rebellion, but a simple statement of fact.

The right to keep and bear arms is one of the checks and balances the founders knew was needed to keep our government inline with the will of the people.  This also answers the questions concerning large clips, semi, and automatic weapons.

So what is the solution to the inappropriate use of firearms if it cannot be universal government confiscation?

Thomas Jefferson stated his opinion in an 1803 letter he penned:

"The precepts of philosophy, & of the Hebrew code, laid hold of actions only.  He (Jesus) pushed his scrutinies into the heart of man; erected his tribunal in the region of his thoughts, and purified the waters at the fountain head."