Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

"Bowing down to NRA is dangerous" [Barf Alert]
Seattle Post-Intelligencer ^ | 1/23/07 | CLIFFORD M. HERMAN

Posted on 01/25/2007 8:27:58 AM PST by kiriath_jearim

The arguments favoring the private ownership of handguns in this country are based on two myths.

The first myth is that the Second Amendment to the Constitution guarantees private citizens the right to own handguns.

The fact is this. The Second Amendment, in its entirety, states "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." The National Rifle Association has succeeded brilliantly and cynically in convincing the public that the amendment consists only of the part that follows the comma.

Let us consider the context within which it was written. The country comprised only a loose arrangement of 13 separate colonies trying to get free from Britain. There was no strong central government that could raise and finance a national army. The leader, George Washington, had to rely on the willingness of each colony to send its militia of private citizens, each man carrying his own rifle, to join the effort.

It was a momentous struggle against a strong British army and its paid Hessian companions. It was only the heroic efforts of Washington's tattered volunteers that prevailed and eventually formed what would become the United States of America.

Only then did a collection of militias become what we have long known as a national militia. We call it the National Guard.

The second myth is that every private citizen needs a handgun to protect his loved ones and property against intrusion by burglars. This is a pernicious untruth. As a longtime trauma surgeon at Harborview Medical Center, the main center for treatment of all kinds of wounds and injuries, I cannot recall a single patient who had been shot by the resident of a private home while attempting to burglarize it. I believe my surgical colleagues would agree with that assessment. It is far more likely that a young boy finds a loaded handgun in his parents' bedside table and either he or a playmate gets shot while playing with it.

The other common use of handguns in private homes takes place during acts of domestic violence or drug disputes. Except in cases of convenience store holdups, gunshot wounds are administered by a family member or someone else known to the victim. We documented this well in a New England Journal of Medicine article we published as part of a comparison between Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., regarding the use of handguns.

Those are the two myths responsible for the ubiquitous presence and use of handguns in Seattle and elsewhere in this country. They attest to the ignorance of our citizens and our laziness in not even reading and learning the history of the Second Amendment to our Constitution.

After all, it is only a single sentence. That should not be too much for anyone.

The obvious truth is that only police and other law-enforcement officials should be allowed to have handguns in this country. Private citizens have no legitimate use or need for them, and they should be barred from possessing them. Period

Shame on us, for acquiescing to the NRA and to our own ignorance. We need to correct this dangerous condition.

[Clifford M. Herman, M.D., is a professor emeritus of surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine.]


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: 2ndamendment; banglist
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-102 next last
To: beltfed308; robertpaulsen
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/engblom.html is an interesting read.

It's unconstitutional for National Guard members to operate a prison during a strike by public employees? Public buildings are the same as private residences if union members sometimes sleep there on the job?

Even the majority in your split decision citation admit that they could only arrive at their opinion by ignoring the actual language of the Constitution and resorting to "analogous" rationalizations.

"Under a technical and literal reading of the language, the Third Amendment would only protect fee simple owners of houses. We reject such a formalistic construction for the same reasons that it has been rejected in analogous contexts."

Blatant judicial activism, explicit rejection of the language of the Constitution and hard core left wing pandering.

It's interesting alright.

81 posted on 01/26/2007 10:06:05 PM PST by Mojave
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: harpseal; TexasCowboy; AAABEST; Travis McGee; Squantos; Shooter 2.5; wku man; SLB; ...
Seeing as a doctor considers himself such a renowned authority on guns, I'm certain that he will have no problem with us who still recall what it means to be Americans offer him unsolicited opinions on his next surgery.

Click the Gadsden flag for pro-gun resources!

82 posted on 02/02/2007 5:40:14 AM PST by Joe Brower (Sheep have two speeds: "graze" and "stampede".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Joe Brower
I'm certain that he will have no problem with us who still recall what it means to be Americans offer him unsolicited opinions on his next surgery.

I love people who tell me they have a right to their opinions regarding matters such as this.

I tell them as gently as possible that they have a right to an opinion as to how to perform brain surgery. That doesn't mean I'm going to let them open up my skull.

L

83 posted on 02/02/2007 5:45:21 AM PST by Lurker (Europeans killed 6 million Jews. As a reward they got 40 million Moslems. Karma's a bitch.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 82 | View Replies]

To: Lurker
Aw, you're just "insensitive", that's all. $;-)
84 posted on 02/02/2007 5:48:48 AM PST by Joe Brower (Sheep have two speeds: "graze" and "stampede".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 83 | View Replies]

To: Lurker
I'm certain that he will have no problem with us who still recall what it means to be Americans offer him unsolicited opinions on his next surgery.

I love people who tell me they have a right to their opinions regarding matters such as this.

There's a little more to it than that, in particular just who is funding some of the *concerned physicians* trying to disarm America, and the unanswered question of just what they have planned for us if they should accomplish that steppingstone along the path they have planned.

85 posted on 02/02/2007 6:17:30 AM PST by archy (Et Thybrim multo spumantem sanguine cerno. [from Virgil's *Aeneid*.])
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 83 | View Replies]

To: kiriath_jearim
As a longtime trauma surgeon at Harborview Medical Center, the main center for treatment of all kinds of wounds and injuries, I cannot recall a single patient who had been shot by the resident of a private home while attempting to burglarize it.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

You moron, maybe that has something to do with the fact that legitimate medical facilities report gunshot wounds to the police, and that for some odd reason burglars do not like having the police inquiring into their business.

86 posted on 02/02/2007 6:19:54 AM PST by steve-b (It's hard to be religious when certain people don't get struck by lightning.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lurker
I love people who tell me they have a right to their opinions regarding matters such as this.

I tell them as gently as possible that they have a right to an opinion as to how to perform brain surgery. That doesn't mean I'm going to let them open up my skull.

You see! You have no appreciation or sympathy for those poor deluded people, nor for the physical condition that's caused such short-circuitry of their mental processes.

Clearly, such folks suffer from a lead deficiency. Dr. archy prescribes a 230-grain intracardiac injection. Repeat as needed, but one dose should prove an effective cure.

87 posted on 02/02/2007 6:21:12 AM PST by archy (Et Thybrim multo spumantem sanguine cerno. [from Virgil's *Aeneid*.])
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 83 | View Replies]

To: kiriath_jearim

I love it when pointy-headed liberals prove their stupidity time and again.

Your tuition dollars at work.


88 posted on 02/02/2007 6:51:40 AM PST by VeniVidiVici (Celebrate Monocacy!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HarleyLady27
The first myth is that the Second Amendment to the Constitution guarantees private citizens the right to own handguns

Sooo, The Bill of Rights (the first 10 amendments) are for, by & of the people.....all of them EXCEPT the 2nd? Unbelievable

89 posted on 02/02/2007 7:13:27 AM PST by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: archy
Dr. archy prescribes a 230-grain intracardiac injection

Sadly I think it's going to come to that.

But there are lines in the sand. Mine are very clear and well defined.

Stay safe my friend.

L

90 posted on 02/02/2007 7:24:46 AM PST by Lurker (Europeans killed 6 million Jews. As a reward they got 40 million Moslems. Karma's a bitch.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 87 | View Replies]

To: FixitGuy

>I have a fear that even owning guns will not keep us free as long as the gun runners of the world keep selling hi-tech stuff to anyone with the money to buy it.<

Let them hold and maintain the hi-tech stuff. We can always take it from them when we need it.


91 posted on 02/02/2007 8:41:44 AM PST by B4Ranch (Press "1" for English, or Press "2" and you will be disconnected until you learn to speak English.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: kiriath_jearim

Anyone who doesn't believe people have a right to defend themselves should not be listened to or trusted.


92 posted on 02/02/2007 9:26:50 AM PST by paul51 (11 September 2001 - Never forget)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Puppage
Sooo, The Bill of Rights (the first 10 amendments) are for, by & of the people.....all of them EXCEPT the 2nd? Unbelievable

I can't believe they still allow doctors to graduate without the fundamental ability to read and comprehend what they're reading...

93 posted on 02/02/2007 9:33:10 AM PST by Andonius_99 (There are two sides to every issue. One is right, the other is wrong; but the middle is always evil.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 89 | View Replies]

To: paul51
Surprise, Surprise,,,,,,, NOT

From Wikepia:

William Randolph Hearst took over the paper in 1921. The Hearst Corporation owns the P-I to this day.

The daily Seattle Post-Intelligencer is one of two daily newspapers in Seattle, Washington, United States, the other being the Seattle Times. The PI is widely perceived to be more liberal than the Times.

A liberal rag and a liberal prof, two liars don't make for the truth.

94 posted on 02/02/2007 10:08:17 AM PST by TYVets (God so loved the world he didn't send a committee)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 92 | View Replies]

To: gov_bean_ counter

"As a longtime trauma surgeon at Harborview Medical Center, the main center for treatment of all kinds of wounds and injuries, I cannot recall a single patient who had been shot by the resident of a private home while attempting to burglarize it."

Or it could be that the author works in an upper class community well served by the police and private security.


95 posted on 02/02/2007 11:39:02 AM PST by ibbryn (this tag intentionally left blank)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: kiriath_jearim

"They attest to the ignorance of our citizens and our laziness in not even reading and learning the history of the Second Amendment to our Constitution."

Amazing that he cides us yet has his own facts soooo wrong.

He's claiming the National Guard, which was formed well after the Bill of Rights was written, is the militia the BOR refers to?

He's claiming citizens are NOT part of the militia, in spite of US TITLE 10?

He's claiming the 2nd is not an individual right, that it belongs only to the Feds and National Guard? Does the belive freedom of the press only belongs to state run news agencies?


96 posted on 02/02/2007 11:47:07 AM PST by ibbryn (this tag intentionally left blank)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Joe Brower

The right of the people is individual, not collective.

This brainless twit has been sniffing way too much anesthesia.


97 posted on 02/02/2007 1:07:04 PM PST by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 82 | View Replies]

To: kiriath_jearim
This whole article is nothing but...


98 posted on 02/02/2007 1:12:26 PM PST by aomagrat (Let not your heart be troubled: Ye believe in God, believe ye also in gunboats.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SauronOfMordor; Joe Brower
The Dick Act of 1903 started a gradual process that, after the National Defense Act of 1933, resulted in the National Guard being a reserve component of the Regular Army.
Shhhhh...The good Doctor >spit<, Clifford M. Herman, is trying to start his very own myth and you're debunking it before it's even out of the gate.
99 posted on 02/02/2007 4:06:34 PM PST by philman_36
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: Puppage
Sooo, The Bill of Rights (the first 10 amendments) are for, by & of the people.....all of them EXCEPT the 2nd?

The Tenth Amendment exists much more as a protection of state power than of individual freedom; it only protects people's rights insofar as it indicates that the people retain those powers which the federal government forbids the states from exercising but does not exercise itself.

Still, the point is well taken; unlike the Tenth Amendment, whose text clearly protects state powers, the Second Amendment refers to the right of the people.

100 posted on 02/02/2007 4:07:49 PM PST by supercat (Sony delenda est.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 89 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-102 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson