Phil Seymour: Vote, don’t revolt

The writer of the Jan. 10 letter “Unarmed are subjects” believed that unarmed Americans are “merely subjects” and that his recourse to “an overreaching, suppressive government” lies in his Second Amendment rights. Wrong on both counts!

First, Americans, with or without guns, are called “citizens,” not subjects. The “armed uprising” he cited (the American Revolution) was fought against an English monarch, not one’s own democratically elected body of representatives (of whatever party).

We don’t change a government with which we disagree by force of arms, even if we consider that government repressive or overreaching; we change that government via the electoral process every two years for our representatives, four years for our chief executive and six years for our senators.

And to call for an armed overthrow of one’s government is known as “sedition” (some would call it “treason”).

Is a “right” to launch a coup d’etat written into the Bill of Rights? Hardly!

We don’t lead armed insurrections against our government or our elected officials. That’s not how mature Americans resolve dispute.! We vote – like adults and like true “citizens” of this great nation.

This story was originally published January 12, 2016 at 4:35 PM with the headline "Phil Seymour: Vote, don’t revolt."