Is the right of free exercise of religion only allowed when one congregates with others in a church, or can an individual exercise that right in a solitary manner?
Is the right against abridging freedom of the press only allowed for people accredited as journalists or is it a right of the people to a free press?
Is the right of the people to peacably assemble only allowed when the collective allows it or can individuals assemble and move of their own choice?
-PJ
Zactly and I’ve proffered that as a starting point or to conflate theargument
The Constitution is a contract among the People and the government founded thereby. As I look at it, the federal government is in breach of that contract, therefore, by its very terms and as a matter of natural right (See Declaration of Independence) we are no longer bound by it or subject to laws that do not comply therewith. If they push much more, if they infringe much further into my world and upon my rights to life and liberty, I will consider it a duty to my nature and my loved ones to instigate actions to terminate the contract by whatever means necessary.
Treasonous! many will say. To whom I reply: Except under an illegitimate law like the Alien and Sedition Act or any other such tyrannical rule, my expression of a my moral right to freedom from oppression is noble, not treasonous. If I’m the last American who believes this, I yearn for death. If not, I hope that like minded men and women will stand with me and refuse to comply with their unjust and thus immoral intrusions into our daily lives.
A few years ago, the town of Avon, CT [a Newtown-like suburb of Hartford] was in a flap over a Walmart or Dick’s that had recently opened. Mothers were *upset* that ammo and guns were in full view of their children who potentially could *see* them when they walked in the toy department nearby. Well, a public hearing was convened, and a bunch of us decided to attend. The Avon Stepford wifes drummed up support of their pols to demand of the store to put the ammo/guns behind a curtain, or in a separate room, so their precious snow-flakes would not *see* them. I was surprised that it was an open meeting for anyone, not just the town folk.
Well, it turns out I sat next to an articulate, well-dressed lady, and we struck up a conversation while waiting for the event to begin. She explained that she had no personal interest in firearms; when she rose to speak, she gave the most eloquent statement about how the town fathers had no business in circumventing the Constitution and our inalienable rights as citizens. [She could have easily been the re-incarnation of Madison or Patrick Henry]. It was awe-inspiring and if IIRC, she got a standing-O from the assembly.
This whole 2A debate might be a red-herring, to cover for legit discussion of so many hot-button issues that face us, as a nation. To me, any thinking person would have to conclude that a line has been drawn in the sand. It sure is for me.