Newspaper InsertOur Second Amendment Rights
Press Release, June 26, 2008
The United States Supreme Court decision handed down today affirmed our Right to Keep and Bear Arms. Some have attempted to make the argument that the appearance of the word “militia” in the opening lines of the Second Amendment was intended to convey only a “group right,” not an individual right.
I have long felt this to be self-serving and specious. We have long called the first ten amendments to our Constitution “The Bill of Rights.” To now find that one of those “rights” is not really a right after all, would have opened a door I believe few truly want to pass through.
I believe affirming this right as the Supreme Court has done also affirms the remainder of the Bill of Rights. This is essential to this nation and what we propose to stand for.
The Second Amendment was intended to reserve decisions about self-defense to the people themselves. More importantly, it was intended to limit the ability of the government to take actions interfering with the people.
One only has to reflect on the actions of the City of New Orleans in confiscating firearms when they might be most needed, to conclude that the drafters of our Constitution knew precisely what they were doing.
As we go forward into the 21st century, it is important to understand, and be soundly grounded in, the fundamentals of our form of government. I believe this decision establishes that we are a nation of laws and founded on individual liberty.