When we ignore the Constitution in our “righteous” quest to safeguard the 2nd Amendment, we are little better than the Bloomberg crowd.
Currently under consideration by Congress, the Conceal Carry Reciprocity Act (HR38) would expand our right to carry across State lines, compelling sovereign States to defer to federal authority in such matters.
Please understand that the ONLY authority over arms delegated to the federal government by the States is Art I Sec 8, Clause 16 which, per the Militia Act of 1792, empowers the feds to organize, arm and discipline the Militia. That’s it!!!
The 2nd Amendment was wisely intended by our founders to limit the federal government—not the States. It was intended to prohibit the federal government from regulating a citizen’s right to bear arms outside a citizen’s duty as a militia member.
So, while the feds may constitutionally protect a State citizen’s right to be armed in order to carry out his responsibility as a member of the State Militia, the federal government is not constitutionally empowered to in any way extend its authority beyond that specific purpose.
State Constitutions define their citizens’ 2nd Amendment rights, and if a State Constitution inadequately protects citizens’ 2nd Amendment rights, then citizens of that State are duty-bound to amend the State Constitution—NOT to encourage the federal Leviathan to superimpose its superimpose its 2nd Amendment desires on the States.
Though the Reciprocity Act is a wonderfully convenient remedy for conceal carry gun owners to carry across State lines unimpeded, the Act is blatantly unconstitutional. That must matter to us all, for if we permit the feds to illegitimately grant “rights”, at a future date the feds may just as easily deny those “rights”, reducing God-given and constitutional rights to nothing more than federal “privileges”. Is that what NRA patriots want? God, I hope not!!
As an NRA member in good standing for many years now, when it comes to protecting citizens’ rights to be armed, the Constitution must ALWAYS be our guide—NOT any short-sighted desire for personal convenience.
Assailed from all sides today, the Constitution was intended to be the Supreme Law of the Land. Let’s try to restore it to that lofty status. Let’s not foolishly, unwittingly—or conveniently—subvert it.
Comments
Donnie, I agree. However, and from a practical standpoint, unless the States codify this fundamental God-given right in their respective Constitutions, their citizens' right to bear arms are effectively abridged. Citizens must review their State Constitutions to ensure that this--and other--fudnamental rights are, in fact, codified. God helps those who help themselves.
IMO, the Second Amendment, as part of the Bill of Rights, is a Right provided by God for each Citizen of the United States of America. Not to be infringed by anyone. Period. The States should have no authority over guns or ammo or anything that keeps the guns and ammo in good working condition. Taxes is an infringement also.