Is the Second Amendment Unique?

American Thinker ^ | Dec 23, 2017 | Sam Bocetta

[Oshkalaboomboom]

The case for American exceptionalism is often overstated. It is true that our Constitution, at least when it was written, was a revolutionary document, in both senses of the word: it represented a huge shift in the way that the state was conceived, but also an attempt to free a citizenry from perceived oppression.

Because of the unique historical circumstances in which it was written, the Constitution put in place laws that appear to be similarly unique. However, when looked at in a historical perspective, many of these (such as the right to free speech) are unique in extent rather than quality: they make a right that was de facto in early modern England into a de jure provision.

There is one part of the U.S. Constitution, however, that may well be totally unique: the Second Amendment.

The 27 words that make up the amendment, “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,” are perhaps the most controversial, and perhaps the most misunderstood, in our entire Constitution. I’m not going to add another interpretation to the hundreds already available. Instead, I want to look where the amendment came from, and then look at whether it is, indeed, unique.

The Historical Context

Given the context in which the constitution was written -- that of a new country keen to free itself from the clutches of an overbearing English tyranny -- it is strange that the Second Amendment is actually based on English law. Specifically, the English Bill of Rights of 1689 codified what was regarded as a natural right to self-defense. This bill essentially limited the power of the English king to disarm his subjects, after Charles II had tried to disarm Protestants

[Cheerio]

Does ANY other country restrict gun possession equal or less than the US?

Does any other country's government have a "Constitution" or other governing document that state what that government CANNOT do? This is what so much upset the first gay President of the USA spewing his disagreement with our form of government and the founders on PBS years before Bill Ayers launched him onto his historic rise to popularity and ultimately the Presidency in a land full of ignorant historic illiterates.

[GailA]

It was infringed the day they passed the first gun bans in the Old West if we want to get technical.

I have a question, I know a trigger pull can be lightened to 1.5 lbs, but can the hammer on a revolver be too? Thumb surgery has caused limited mobility in my Dominate R. hand, which is my shooting hand. The thumb is FROZEN, and Index has less strength. I CCW a Taurus Ultra Lite 38, or should I just go hammer-less and get the trigger lightened to 1.5 lbs pull?

Carrying is a necessity, Memphis is a ‘Little Chicago’. I live in a small town with nothing but fast food, nails, $stores, biggest employer is the grocery store. So have to go into Memphis for most anything else. Even the good parts of the city are dangerous.