The language of the Second Amendment is pretty clear: “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.” The only ones who seem unable to comprehend that simple sentence is the gun control crowd. Fortunately, for the rest of us the House Judiciary Committee just approved the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017, a measure that, if approved by Congress, would then be signed into law by the president. Doing so would do away with state prohibitions on the carrying of concealed guns for self-defense, as well as a host of other Second Amendment infringements.
By Dr. Dave Dolbee
The Second Amendment was written to be very plain, simple, and, most of all, clear. Our Founding Fathers understood and clearly communicated through the Second Amendment that an armed citizenry was the biggest obstacle to a tyrannical government. Therefore, no qualifiers are found in the Second Amendment. No exceptions. No ambiguity. No uncertainty.
The anti-gun forces have tried to muddy the language, stating the use of the word “militia” referred to the military, not ordinary citizens. This is, of course, completely absurd. Militia is defined as:
- A military force that is raised from the civil population to supplement a regular army in an emergency.
- A military force that engages in rebel or terrorist activities, typically in opposition to a regular army.
- All able-bodied civilians eligible by law for military service.
Continuing, “…the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed” leaves no doubt that our Founders were talking about the people and not a standing army under federal or state control.
All of this begs the question to so many, “Why do we have any regulations on firearms at all?” While I cannot answer that question, certain members of Congress are at least moving in the right direction with the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017. The act would grant national reciprocity, preventing the patchwork of state laws and regulations imposed on the citizenry when people who are otherwise legal cross a state line with a concealed firearm.
I can already hear some of you screaming at the screen. Yes, this is still a regulation in that you have to have a CCW, which is by definition a regulation or infringement under the Second Amendment—no argument from me on that one. However, the NRA and other pro-Second Amendment groups have done a great job controlling the gun debate on a national scale. As a result, the gun control forces have adopted a strategy of trying to chip away at the Second Amendment in smaller, heavily liberal jurisdictions. Passage of the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 would prevent much of the anti-gunners’ strategy of trying to litigate the issue on the local level, in locales friendly to the antis’ message.
Just for entertainment as well as educational value, it is fun to watch the collective heads of the anti-gunners explode at the news.
Bloomberg News ran the misleading and intentionally scary headline “Get Ready for Concealed Guns in All 50 States: House panel approves law that will allow firearms-owners to cross any state line with a hidden weapon.” The article was backed up with a video depicting various mass shootings around the country—despite the fact that none of them involved a concealed carry license holder or member of the NRA. Also, let’s not forget Bloomberg News and Michael Bloomberg, the ex-mayor of New York City, share the Bloomberg name for a reason—Michael owns it. Additionally, Bloomberg has founded a number of anti-gun groups, including Mayors Against Illegal Guns, which only sought to make all guns illegal, and Everytown for Gun Safety.
The site features headlines such as “Concealed Carry Reciprocity” Forces States to Let Domestic Abusers Carry Concealed Handguns and The SHARE Act Is Dangerous and Unnecessary, Would Make It Easy to Buy Silencers Illegally.
I can, however, agree with at least one statement from Everytown: “Right now, every state sets its own rules for who can carry a hidden, loaded handgun in public. There is no national standard for who can carry hidden, loaded handguns in public…”
Yes, that is exactly the problem! Every state is making up a different set of rules. The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 was designed to eliminate this problem. Then, building on that, we need to honor the wording of the Second Amendment, “…the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed,” and start abolishing gun laws altogether, giving the Second Amendment the same respect and power the courts have upheld for the First Amendment.
The Second Amendment is absolute and uniform across the country irrespective of state borders or jurisdictions. Our laws and lawmakers need to start realizing and respecting that fact. The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 is a step in the right direction.
Where do you stand on the meaning of the Second Amendment? Do you support National Reciprocity? Share your answers in the comment section.
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My right is assured by the Federal Constitution and it is not a matter for the state to decide. I am a free citizen in all fifty states and should have the same rights endowed by my creator.