[Southack]

"Ashcroft added the Second Amendment did not prohibit Congress from enacting laws restricting firearms ownership for "compelling state interests."

It's a compelling state interest to ban firearms from prisoners serving time inside the pen.

Gee, how unConservative of Ashcroft... < /MOCKING! >

[Republican_Strategist]

What are "compelling state interests"? For members of Congress and other Washington policy-makers, "compelling state interests" translates to "whatever reason the government finds."

Therefore, "compelling state interests" is a loophole that renders the Second Amendment moot – at least in the minds of most Congress critters.

The Second Amendment is pretty clear to those of us who understand English and history: "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."