Civil rights defenders tell opponents that law abiding citizens use guns to defend themselves against criminals with guns. What civil rights defenders fail to understand is that the opponents have this fantasy that anti-gun laws will be expanded to the point that all guns will be confiscated and their import, manufacture and sale in the U.S. will be blocked to the point that even criminals won’t have guns.
Never mind the impossibility of this, nor it’s illegality. Consider what happens if it should actually come to pass. Samuel Colt’s product wasn’t called the “Equalizer” for nothing. When everyone has a gun then the 19-year old mother with babies can defend herself against the 25-year old man breaking into her house. But if neither has a gun, then the 25-year old man will prevail.
If Justice Breyer had a gun he wouldn’t have been mugged. But since neither he nor his mugger had guns, the mugger prevailed with superior strength. I wonder if he’ll learn this lesson?
The rights protected by the Second Amendment, go a tad further. They recognize that under the American system, based upon a responsible citizenry at every challenge, there is also a responsibility on the part of young manhood, to be ready to defend the freedom & social heritage of other citizens; hence the linkage of protection of the God given right with the duty to serve in the militia. (Neither is dependent upon the other, but both are sacred to Americans, since the time of independence; the one since settlement; the other since independence. See Right To Keep & Bear Arms.)
Wili Justice Breyer's ordeal wake him up? One can only hope.
William Flax