[sig226]

The second amendment is actually more absolute than the first. The first amendment begins, "Congress shall make no law respecting . . ." with the obvious intent that the states were left out of it. At the time, the founders believed that state constitutions had sufficent safeguards against state intrusions.

The second amendment says, ". . . the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." The difference is important - the scope of the second amendment was not limited to any particular government.

[robertpaulsen]

"the scope of the second amendment was not limited to any particular government."

According to the Preamble to the Bill of Rights, the scope of all amendments was limited to the federal government. And, that's how it was interpreted and enforced for almost 150 years.

[snowsislander]

The second amendment is actually more absolute than the first. The first amendment begins, "Congress shall make no law respecting . . ." with the obvious intent that the states were left out of it. At the time, the founders believed that state constitutions had sufficent safeguards against state intrusions.

The second amendment says, ". . . the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." The difference is important - the scope of the second amendment was not limited to any particular government.

Yes. I don't believe that it is also coincidence that the Second Amendment is even more important than the First Amendment, although of course both are fundamental in a society of free men.