Platypus Thoughts

The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution (which, as of today anyway, is still a founding document of our democracy) states:

“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.”

The Second Amendment was ratified on December 15, 1791, as one of the first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights expanded upon the Constitution by establishing clear individual rights, limiting the government’s power, and further laying the foundation of American freedom. (National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action, NRA-ILA)

The Second Amendment was a logical response to the English attempt to keep weapons out of the hands of the revolutionaries in the war for the independence of the Colonies. (We would not have won that contest with pitchforks and stones.)

At the time of the American Revolutionary War, militias were groups of able-bodied men who protected their towns, colonies, and eventually states. (National Constitution Center)

The weapons that were used from the 1600s to the early 1800s were mostly muskets, rifles, pistols, and swords. Muskets were used by infantry men, rifles by hunters, and pistols and swords by high ranking officers. (Smithsonian Learning Lab)

The Second Amendment does not address automatic rifles, machine guns, rocket launchers, grenades of any kind, guided missiles, anti-tank weapons, high-explosive bombs, nuclear weapons, or personal firearms with advanced optics and ammunition.

The Second Amendment also does not address drone technology or cyber warfare. We have created (or at least attempted to create) other vehicles for controlling these weapons.

I am not against the underlying reason for the Second Amendment – to be prepared to defend our country by joining militias organized for that purpose. BYOG militias – Bring Your Own Guns and work together.

I am against the unwillingness, or inability, or refusal of our Congress to better define “Arms,” “Militia” and “a free State” in light of 234 years of “progress.” The U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights were written during a particular time frame and mind set. These documents could not address new inventions or new ways of thinking in a future that they could not imagine at the time of their writing.

We have, from time to time, amended our constitution to address changes in our understanding of and commitment to equality, freedom, rights and justice. But no one has – yet – had the guts and the backing to effect limitations on the “right to bear arms” or the “arms” themselves.

And I don’t imagine during this administration, anyone will.