Might the Second Amendment matter almost as much as the First? I think the answer is yes. And just like the First, the Second is practical, newly relevant, and far wiser than the watered-down alternatives.
Posted on 08/04/2007 10:30:58 AM PDT by 2nd amendment mama
In the aftermath of the Petit family slayings in Cheshire, we all reached for explanations: How do human beings sink this low? How could this tragedy have been prevented? Why? There are so many nagging questions. They all need to be asked. And maybe some old arguments need to be hashed out again.
Why not a more stringent "three strikes and you're out" law in this state? Connecticut's version is so weak that it's more like "30 strikes and we'll think about it while you strike again."
Why not speed up the criminal trial process for repeat violent offenders? Get them off the streets. It's been proposed many times. Most people agree it should be done. It never happens.
Can't we better monitor the probation process?
Can't we do a better job of predicting -- figuring out which non-violent criminals are about to turn violent?
Are home alarms really effective?
How about dogs?
But somehow all of these ideas pale before the barbarity of this particular crime.
That is why one old question is worth asking again. It is this: What if the Second Amendment is for real? Is it possible that it should it be revered, just like the First Amendment?
Sam Ervin said, "The Constitution should be taken like mountain whiskey -- undiluted and untaxed." Maybe that applies to all of the Constitution.
Is it possible that the Second Amendment is not a quaint and antiquated remnant of a world that will never return, but an idea as relevant and sound today as when it was written?
Is it possible that we are not talking about the right of the government to form a militia when there is no standing army, but the right of the individual to defend himself, or herself, against both tyranny and lawlessness? Maybe we are talking about the right of self-defense -- the right of the individual to take up arms against a government that wants to oppress, be it foreign or domestic. And the right of the individual to defend himself against criminals, brutes, and barbarians when local police seem unable to stop them.
Might the Second Amendment matter almost as much as the First?
I think the answer is yes.
And just like the First, the Second is practical, newly relevant, and far wiser than the watered-down alternatives.
I don't think George Bush wants to impose martial law on his fellow citizens. But he has diluted habeas corpus. And he has enlarged Big Brother. You have to stop and think about a government that wants to control the thoughts and behavior of its people.
Should such a government be permitted to disarm them as well?
And whereas the reform of the criminal justice system along some of the lines suggested above (a real "three strikes" law and faster trials for violent offenders) would not have saved the lives of Jennifer, and Hayley, and Michaela Petit, a gun might have.
I don't say it would have.
I say it might have.
Had Dr. William Petit had access to a gun and known how to use it, he might have been able to dispatch the two perpetrators, who were armed with only an air gun and ropes.
Moreover, the three victims here were women.
What if Mrs. Hawke-Petit had been trained in the use of firearms? Suppose she had been able to get to a gun after her husband was beaten into unconsciousness by the invaders? Or when she was forced to take one captor to the bank to fetch him money?
It's worth thinking about.
Women and children are now the major targets of predators in our society. Government is not protecting them very well. Many professional women who work in cities know this and take courses in self-defense. A gun may be the only realistic self-defense against the sort of criminals we are talking about here.
And if a few women took care of a few thugs in cases like this; if a few stories like this one ended in a different way -- with a woman blowing one of these brutes to kingdom come -- it might be a deterrent. Lives upon lives might be spared.
A friend of mine said: "The gun nuts are back."
They are.
And they are right.
Mind you, we are talking about arming people who are trained and know how to use a weapon.
No one should have a gun who has not been trained.
Just as one gets training in handling a boat, motorcycle, or car, one must learn how to use and safely store a gun. (The National Rifle Association maintains an extensive national network of programs in firearms training and education.)
And, obviously, no one would be forced to own a gun.
A second caveat: Encouraging citizens to arm themselves is no "answer" to crimes like the Petit murders.
An "answer" does not exist.
But it is one of several remedies when we are faced with palpable evil.
All possible remedies should be on the table:
-- Various reforms of the justice system, like a real three-strike-law for predatory offenders.
-- Better psychological treatment for troubled youth.
-- Religious training, in both love and self-restraint, especially when people are young.
-- Prison programs that both retain the hard core and educate the educable.
-- More and better home alarm systems.
-- More cops visible in more neighborhoods.
-- Dobermans.
All of these approaches have merit.
So does self-defense.
None of these options "fix" a society that can produce human beings who torture and kill the defenseless for sport.
No one step or program can plug every hole in America's justice system, or its soul.
But there are times when a gun in the hands of a potential victim may save a life.
Let's admit -- since the murderers, and druggies, and psychos, and thieves already have guns -- that arming the peaceful, law-abiding, decent, and productive people, whether in a school, or a private home, or on the way to a parked car, is an option that also has merit.
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Keith C. Burris is editorial page editor of the Journal Inquirer.
As in this story from KHOU Houston last December:
Teen shoots, kills 2 would-be robbers
02:46 PM CST on Thursday, December 28, 2006
From 11 News staff reports
An overnight home invasion robbery attempt in northeast Harris County ended in a hail of gunfire that left two suspects dead.
Investigators said a 17-year-old was home with his cousin when four armed men kicked in the door and started shooting.
The teen pulled out a shotgun of his own and fired back at the suspects, killing two of them.
Two other suspects were later caught.
The 17-year-old asked to not be identified.
“Truthfully, it was either them or me, regardless of who was on the other side of that door or whoever kicked my door down, it was either him or me,” he said. “I’m thankful to be standing here today. I thank god.”
Authorities said at this point they are not planning on filing charges against the teen.
No. In fact, unlike the surrounding states (MA, NY, RI, in most instances a CCW is fairly easy to obtain.
As I kind of pointed out, guns are tools. Liberty, justice, defense of all kinds, security, honor and the rest of it are different classes. The tools just help you get and keep them.
They are the easy part. I do hope gun manufacturers pick up on my DVD idea. Most everybody would benefit from learning more about their guns.
Might the Second Amendment matter almost as much as the First? I think the answer is yes. And just like the First, the Second is practical, newly relevant, and far wiser than the watered-down alternatives.
looks painful...
Thanks for the info.
Murder is never justified. Sounds like the Petits chose to go unarmed. I believe that any sane, honest american adult should be able to have firearms in the house, car or person, but I also believe that they have the right o go unarmed, and accept the consequences of doing so.
But...did they give you a new rifle...at least??
Midgets with switchblades scare me..
Never really hurt because shock is your friend!
I still whine sometimes though.
I have been told that it didn’t sound like a gunshot but an explosion. Also that I just stood there for awhile as we all tried to take it in. The first thing that went though my mind was, “damn, I just blew up El Roy’s new Garand!” Then I realized that it might just be a bigger deal than that. I noted that I could see fine and I could hear people freaking out behind me so the ears were okay. I was standing without being dizzy or affected in anyway way so I realized it wasn’t so bad after all.
I looked at my arm and understood that what I was seeing wasn’t good but I have seen me bleed worse so what the heck.
It was pretty surreal actually.
Thanks, Matt. That's definitely one for my bookmarks!
Heck, I would never blow up my own rifle! It was TexasCowboy's and he did receive a refund.
Good post there Travis!
It's nice that if it gets sauce on it, I can just toss it in the dishwasher.
What brand of dishwashing detergent do you recommend?
Sigh.
It's sarcasm.. for the 73,422nd time.
What about your shadow? Does it scare you too? Maybe a teacup? or a spoon?
Honestly... have you ever really looked at a rock? Do they scare you?
Recently we left our 17 y.o. home alone, for the first time, while we went out of town (this was a big step for Mom!).
If/when we do that again, we will make sure that there is a gun available ~ just in case.
Glad to hear it. I was beginning to wonder. ;)
Looks like the chamber blew out, dumped gas back into the action, bad barrel? did Springfield give any explanation? Barrel replacement is one of the many refurbish operations that are done by them.
Glad you are OK, had to have been quite a shock.
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