Reply #17: I agree, there is no absolute, so the question then is where do you draw the line? [View All]

"The Second Amendment states that: “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.” We held in Love v. Pepersack, 47 F.3d 120 (4th Cir.1995), that the Second Amendment does not confer an absolute individual right to bear firearms."

I believe to eliminate the right of the people to bear arms for the sake of only the militia to have them would threaten the basis of what the Bill of Rights were intended to be, as added protection for the security of a free state. I view this as a last resort for the people's protection against a totalitarian government taking power.

I also view the entire Constitution as a document or contract setting up a democratic republic or representative government, the government was to represent the people's interest. The Bill of Rights were intended as a guarantee that the government would be held to account to the promises of the Constitution. That can't be done if the people are dis-empowered.