Gabrielle Giffords' shooting leads some lawmakers to say they'll carry weapons to protect themselves

The New York Daily News ^ | January 9, 2011 | James Gordon Meek

[DangerZone]

His constituents apparently.

[JimSEA]

Reasonable response however it wouldn’t have saved Gifford or those around her due to the element of surprise.

[cubreporter]

and what about Joe Citizen??? Are we supposed to be vulnerable to those who carry guns?

[definitelynotaliberal]

Doesn't the 2nd amendment debar them from carrying weapons?

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.

* A well regulated Militia,
George Mason: "Who are the militia? They consist of the whole people, except a few public officers."

* being necessary to the security of a free State,
Patrick Henry: "Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined... The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able might have a gun."

* the right of the people to keep and bear Arms,
Samuel Adams: "The Constitution shall never be construed to authorize Congress to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms."

* shall not be infringed.
Thomas Jefferson: "No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."

[MacMattico]

I'm all for gun rights but the thought of an Alan Grayson type (yeah I know he's gone) on the floor of the house with a weapon kind of scares me.

[MacMattico]

And it would be some left wing congressman who refused to get proper gun training that would do something like that.

[bunkerhill7]

Have Gun,
Will Gavel