Bear with us
The pen may be mightier than the sword, but the misuse of both words and weapons is a fatal combination. The best – or worst – example of this is the persistent claim by gun advocates of their Second Amendment “rights.”
Even leaving aside reference to “a well-regulated militia,” the amendment states, “É. the right to bear arms shall not be abridged.” The key word, to “bear,” has a clear, simple and limited meaning; such as, to carry.
This is no competent English dictionary on God’s green earth that defines “to bear” to mean, “to own,” “to buy,” or “to sell” anything, much less lethal weapons. No citizen can be denied to right to carry arms in the defense of our nation and may receive arms through participation in a well-regulated military force, i.e. the Army, other military services, the National Guard and Reserves.
States, under the 10th Amendment, may have the constitutional right to legislate restrictive or permissive gun laws. The claim of the unlimited right of any private individual to own, buy or sell such weapons as granted by the Second Amendment is blatantly false and those who claim it are ignorant to a fault.
As recent tragic events amply demonstrate, ignorance and guns are a deadly partnership.
Irwin Rovner
Raleigh
