[William Tell]

robertpaulsen said: "The 2nd amendment is part of the Bill of Rights to the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. Constitution was written to apply to the federal government -- the states already had their own constitutions, and were fiercely independent."

I understand that. However, the US Constitution also rewarded some states with representation based upon the number of slaves owned in the state.

Our Founders understood that this was a compromise with the devil. Without it, there would have been no Union and history would have been quite different. I see no sign of a similar compromise with respect to the keeping and bearing of arms.

Most anti-gun laws date from after the Civil War and were aimed at blacks. Such laws were seldom enforced against free white people.

Perhaps you can tell us what the oldest anti-gun law in the US is?

[robertpaulsen]

"I see no sign of a similar compromise with respect to the keeping and bearing of arms."

Probably because you also see no sign that this issue threatens the Union.