Real Men Keep And Bear Arms
by James Crispino Canaan, CT

The shots "heard 'round the world" were fired when Captain John Parker's militia company stood in the way the British march toward Concord to confiscate military stores. Although Parker's Minute Men fired, they scarcely halted the march of the foe. At Concord, however, militia units lined the rise overlooking the British line of march. Behind them stood a company made up of old men and boys. Still farther behind were citizens who removed the stores the redcoats had come to confiscate. Foiled in their mission, the British began the return march to Boston.

These men knew that if they allowed themselves to be disarmed, they would find themselves completely defenseless and subject to every whim of the ruling monarch. They drew their line in the sand that day, and it was that very shot that is responsible for whatever liberty we still enjoy in this great country.

Later, when the founders penned the Constitution of these United States and subsequently, the Bill of Rights, they sought to insure that the people of this country would never have to fear finding themselves in the same predicament. Thus, they penned the 2nd Amendment.

The 2nd Amendment, "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", is written clearly enough for most people to understand. The subordinate clause "A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state..." seems to be the section which imparts most of the confusion on the issue.

Who is the "militia?" Let's ask the men who wrote it:

"The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. A well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the best and most natural defense of a free country."
     — James Madison, in the Federalist Papers No. 46 at 243-44

"Large and permanent military establishments which are forbidden by the principles of free government, and against the necessity of which the militia were meant to be a constitutional bulwark."
     — James Madison, Fourth Annual Message, November 4, 1812

"An efficient militia is authorized and contemplated by the Constitution and required by the spirit and safety of free government."
     — James Madison, Eighth Annual Message, December 3, 1816

"A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves ... and include all men capable of bearing arms,"
     — Richard Henry Lee , Senator, First Congress

"I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
     — George Mason, during Virginia's Convention to Ratify the Constitution (1788).

"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined."
     — Patrick Henry, during Virginia's Convention to Ratify the Constitution (1788)

"(The Constitution preserves) the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation...(where) the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms."
     — James Madison, The Federalist Papers

"... but if circumstances should at any time oblige the government to form an army of any magnitude, that army can never be formidable to the liberties of the people, while there is a large body of citizens, little if at all inferior to them in discipline and use of arms, who stand ready to defend their rights ..."
     — Alexander Hamilton.

"The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed,"
     — Alexander Hamilton

The arguments presented to the various ratification conventions ALL refer to the right to keep and bear arms as being a right of the PEOPLE, not the state. In fact, the state is granted the right to keep and bear arms by the PEOPLE! We decide whether or not our public servants can remain armed, not the other way around!

I always thought of Americans as being an extremely brave people. I have read countless stories of extreme valor performed under the most deadly circumstances. In all cases where Americans were called upon to fight tyranny, throughout the world, they have proven themselves to be fiercest of all warriors! What has happened in the last 30 years to change this? Where are the real men? Why are they silent while a homegrown tyrant is destroying his liberties? Do they now shop at Victoria's Secret for their underwear?

Any man who does not exercise his right to keep and bear arms is a "liberty moocher"! He is placing the responsibility for the defense of his freedom, squarely on the shoulder of his neighbor who does keep arms. Under certain circumstances, this would be acceptable, but what is not acceptable is the fact that these moochers will not defend his neighbors right to keep and bear arms. In fact, in a lot of cases, the moocher will oppose this God given right to the defend one's liberty. These moochers should be ashamed to call themselves men.

Recently, I read that we had better fight hard to keep our liberty, as this country is the last free place on earth, we have no where else to go. I suddenly had this feeling of hopelessness. Imagine, the land of the free and home of the brave being defended by men in lingerie!

Bill Rogers Tyler, TX