[lowbridge]

“Stevens said the original intention of the founders was not to grant a general right to bear arms to all citizens”

And he was a supreme court justice? How did he ever graduate law school and pass the bar with such ignorance?

[yarddog]

I doubt Stevens is really that stupid. He is just a big fat liar.

[Disambiguator]

“Stevens said the original intention of the founders was not to grant a general right to bear arms to all citizens”

Actually, he is correct, in that the Bill of Rights does not "grant" any rights. It simply recognizes them as pre-existing.

That being said, the rest of his interpretation is about as statist as they come.

[csn vinnie]

Militias are specifically provided for in the First and Second Articles of the Constitution, and the division of state and federal responsibilities are set forth therein. Stevens’ theories make the Second Amendment unnecessary, inexplicable and contrary to the contemporary understandings as expressed in the Federalist Papers.

Having failed to eviscerate the plain meaning of the Second Amendment by judicial fiat, he is now turning as a last resort to the only legitimate means of changing the Constitution — by amendment.

[devolve]

For whom that will attempt to infringe:

- "A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government."

-- George Washington



- "Fill your hand you son of a bitch!"

-- Rooster Cogburn