Lexington and Concord

Though anyone who took American History or watched School House Rock on Saturday morning TV likely knows that the "Shot heard 'round the world" was fired at Lexington, few realize the cause.  An equal number likely recall that Paul Revere warned that the British were coming.  Hadn't the British already been here for many years?  What was happening that caused all the fuss?  General Thomas Gage, Military Governor of Massachusetts, had been given orders to disarm the militias.  Yes, the British were going to rove the countryside and disarm the people.  The plan didn't go over well.  The American Revolution started when the people resisted Gun Control!

Now, with that in mind, let's ponder the Second Amendment:

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 British (i.e. the government) wanted to disarm the people.  Why?  Because it is easier to rule people who don't have the means to resist.  All governments like to have a monopoly on guns.  Our government is no different.  Today it will be 'assault rifles' and tomorrow it will be automatic pistols, and then it will be shotguns and revolvers.  It is a long process and the government is patient.  At the end of the process lies tyranny.  The Framers of the Constitution knew this.  If we interpreted the 2nd Amendment the way they meant it, there would the latest military rifle over every mantle.

 

Now for some interesting facts:

 

All mass shootings have taken place at gun-free zones.

 

More people are bludgeoned to death with hammers or clubs than are killed with rifles.  Hammer control, anyone?

 

The murder rate in the US had fallen by 50% over the last 20 years.  Violent crime has likewise fallen by a similar amount.

 

The Assault Weapons Ban had no statistical impact on crime.

 

Crime rates dropped in Texas and Florida when they passed Concealed Carry laws.

 

Chicago and Washington DC, cities with strict gun control, have high murder rates and violent crime rates.

 

Though the US murder rate is higher than the UK, our violent crime rate is much lower.  Why doesn't that get reported?

 

The Second Amendment provides the people with the means to resist oppressive government; the Founders were familiar with oppressive government and wanted to prevent it in the future.  Not surprisingly, government isn't too keen on that.  By hook or by crook, government wants to disarm the people.  So, the government is telling us that it is disarming us for our own good, to protect us, to keep us safe.  It sells much better that way.  Even if the current government truly and honestly only wants to protect us, a future government will not be so benevolent when it sees a populace unable to resist its will.