Quote:
Originally Posted by k7leetha
Do you take everything as literal interpretation?
That's exactly what it was, sized and made bold to stand out and be made clear. Ever hear of highlighters?
It's not random. It's specific to the key words of the Amendment.
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The 2nd amendment is a valuable safeguard of the freedom of the people. I think we can agree here.
To Europe Rick, I would suggest you read these quotes
"[The Constitution preserves] the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation...(where) the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms."
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James Madison, The Federalist Papers, No. 46
"Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States. A military force, at the command of Congress, can execute no laws, but such as the people perceive to be just and constitutional; for they will possess the power, and jealousy will instantly inspire the inclination, to resist the execution of a law which appears to them unjust and oppressive."
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Noah Webster, An Examination of the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution (Philadelphia 1787).
"No Free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."
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Thomas Jefferson, Proposal Virginia Constitution, 1 T. Jefferson Papers, 334,[C.J. Boyd, Ed., 1950]
"And that the said Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress ... to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms.... "
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Samuel Adams
"I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials."
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George Mason, in Debates in Virginia Convention on Ratification of the Constitution, Elliot, Vol. 3, June 16, 1788
"The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed."
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Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Papers at 184-188
And from another famous person
"The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to allow the subject races to possess arms. History shows that all conquerors who have allowed their subject races to carry arms have prepared their own downfall by so doing."
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Adolph Hitler, Hitler's Secret Conversations 403 (Norman Cameron and R.H. Stevens trans., 1961)
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