The second amendment is completely about giving pause to tyrants. I will not deny it that function, which it excels at. To date, it has never had to be used as such internally...and I pray with all energy of soul it never does.
But at the same time I work for the very political change that you mention and is still within our grasp...I will not rule out its primary functiuon because I want potential usurpers to fear it.
If we talk, and particularly act, like it has no meaning...then it will have no meaning and the tyrants will forge their chains.
From the Declaration:
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.They understood human nature...which despite all the technical advances since that time, has not really changed at all. So they provided the means in the constitution to do the same thing they did, if, God forbid, it ever became necessary.
I pray it never does and am with you in my commitment to working towards a political change in 2010 that harolds a more complete change in 2012. I just pray the other side will gracefully accept such a victory on our part should it occur. If they do, and if they do not do anything out and out over the line constitutionally in the mean time, there will be no need to use the 2nd amendment in such a fashion and it will have once again served its deterent function.
My response was in connection with Post #6, which was *questioned* as to why it was necessary to even say that (per Post #21).
Thus, I came in on that and said (basically) “Yes, it’s necessary to say that the change is going to be by political means and that mechanism, and not by armed revolution.”
I say that (and others say that) because there is a group that says, “We will engage in armed revolution, if we have to.”
My answer to that is to say that I will only engage in the political means and mechanisms that the founding fathers gave us and I’m making that clear right now.
Obviously others have made it clear that they will engage in armed revolution...