And yet another letter writer misquotes the Second Amendment. The writer of “A cheaper plan” (Jan. 20) says the amendment “plainly states that the right to bear arms is to protect ourselves from a tyrannical government.”
I think it’s time we actually look at what this amendment says.
The actual wording of the Second Amendment is: “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 doesn’t include anything about protecting ourselves from a tyrannical government. Nor have the courts made any such interpretation.
As any high school English student would point out, the subject of the sentence is the word “militia,” not the word “people.” Yes, I know the Supreme Court has interpreted it differently, but that doesn’t mean the court was correct. The old militia is no more and has been replaced by the National Guard. Each state has a National Guard under the control of the governor. Since the “right … to keep and bear arms” is part of the same sentence with the subject word “militia,” it’s obvious to me that it is the militia (the National Guard) that must be armed.
Another key word in the sentence is the word “regulated.” Since the National Rifle Association is opposed to any gun regulations, I submit that the NRA’s position is in direct conflict with the amendment its members hold so dear.
In any event, I suggest that future letter or Spout Off writers read the amendment before quoting it.
— ROBERT HIRSCH
Miramar Beach