LogFAQs > #945663093

adjl posted...

Which kind of undermines the point of the 2nd amendment. It exists to give the people the power to overthrow a tyrannical government if the need arises. Overthrowing a tyrannical government, however, is generally going to be illegal, because most governments - tyrannical or otherwise - have laws against orchestrating their downfall. People are guaranteed the right to be able to overthrow the government, but not the right to actually do it.

That's also not what the 2nd is for.

Strictly speaking, the entire point of the 2nd was to make sure Militias (again, Militias with an "M", as in State Militias) couldn't be disarmed, specifically by the federal government. That's it. It was never intended to allow anyone a Constitutional right to a gun (in fact, it was strictly ruled NOT to do that all the way up until 2008), or anything else.

Reading between the lines, of course, this was meant as a check on the federal government, should the states ever feel the need to come to blows (as states had MUCH more power back then), or with each other (before the idea of uniting the states took hold, they basically acted as mini-countries). And even though the likes of Jefferson and others were fans of revolt should the need arise, it's like the 2nd is the specific mechanic meant to address that.

Really, it's why the 2nd is easily the worst aspect of the Bill of Rights: it's original intent is defunct, and has been grossly twisted into mean something it NEVER initially intended to. And we are all worse off for it.

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PotD's resident Film Expert.