Constitutional original intent question. When the Founding Father's drafted the second ammendment, were they thinking about crime and how gun ownership affects it? Did they intend for gun ownership to reduce crime? or did they have something else on their mind?

           David (Me)
Law enforcement back then consisted of anyone and everyone having a responsibility to stop a crime in action, catch the criminal, and bring him/her before a judge. (Research English common law of that time period, specifically looking at "hue and cry". I don't have any online sources on this right now, but I do have my Criminal Justice textbooks.) So I am sure this was on the Founder's minds.
There also is the need for protection from indian attacks and its use as a hunting tool.
But what probably was foremost on the Founder's minds was the need to have firearms to defend oneself against unlawful actions by the government. I suggest reading some of the Founder's writings from that time period to discern their probable intent for including such an amendment.
            23 hours ago ·

            Andrew
I agree with you 100%. Primary concern was keeping the government in check. I had to do a lot of reading on the issue as a Pre-Law major at PCC. But modern weaponry has just about made man power obsolete. How does the second ammendment today help us keep the government in check? Even if a revolution is mounted by the people, the government is willing to hire foreign soldiers to declare martial law. Is keeping the gov in check today via weapons a realistic possibility?
            23 hours ago ·

            Mitch
We the people of the United States need bigger guns.
            23 hours ago ·

            Andrew
Ummm...we would need more than bigger guns to stop an army. The gov has tanks, gunships, laser guided missiles, etc.
            23 hours ago ·

            David
If we could obtain all the weapons the gov has (i.e. military) and were still responsible enough to maintain local militias then yes. And if the National Guard would be loyal to the state govs.
Now... at least a good portion of the military would refuse to carry out unlawful orders and join the citizen's side if it came down to that suddenly. And the military gets its resources (food, fuel, etc.) from civilian sources. And there are very few bases anymore. It would be a winnable fight IF the civilian populace (including law enforcement) was united. Otherwise... it will just make a third world country out of us.
I'm sure it wouldn't be that sudden though... there'd probably be a subtle shift towards "security" while ignoring the Constitution until it seemed necessary and right to institute complete tyranny for the sake of "security".
The Constitution was written so that a populace of responsible people could live free. The country is now almost 50-50 of people who are working and participating in the old-school American dream, and people who are feeding off the government (welfare, bailouts, grants, etc.) and asking the government to do and provide things for them rather than working for themselves.
Unless those programs are cut off or severely limited, forcing those people to leave or fend for themselves, this country will collapse and divide or become a tyranny, or there will be a revolution that will tear this nation apart. Either way, it's never going to be the same again.
I vote we all move to one area of the nation when that happens, and reinstate the Constitution and a Constitutional government there.
            23 hours ago ·

            Andrew
If everyone were united...statistically improbable. Plus, since when is the American public a responsible people? I wish things were the way they were, but things may be past saving at this point.
            22 hours ago ·

            David
Yah, I agree. We seem to have lost responsibility sometime during Korea. And no matter what happens, it won't end well. Even if we elect someone who brings us back to a purely Constitutional gov, the riots from those who want the government to provide for them will rip the nation apart. And I bet they won't just riot, they'll try seizing power. It'll be like the Russian revolution. Hopefully enough responsible Americans would stand up and forcefully drive them out or to one area of the nation, but who wants to fire on fellow countrymen, no matter how wrong they are? Especially when it will put families against each other like the Civil War as well. It will be the great American tragedy no matter the outcome.
            22 hours ago ·

            Andrew
Well put!
            22 hours ago ·

"God is love." (1John 4:8)

There is no love without God, it is only lust.

1Corinthians 13:4-7 is merely an outward showing of love, of God in us. (1John 3:18)

With sin there can be no love, for God is Holy and without sin. (1John 2:15-5:12)

So I decided to make this little trip to MA to see family and attend a friend's birthday party. But the friend took off for NY this morning so I guess I'm just seeing family and catching up with a few friends.

On that note, I got to my parent's a little after noon. My Mom had just bought a copy of Paradise General and I had nothing to do for the afternoon so I borrowed it and started reading. I did fall asleep for a couple hours in the middle of it and took a little hiatus for dinner, but I just finished the book. Took me about 5 hours to get though the whole thing... I just sat down and read through it. Something I haven't done with a book in too long.

Anyways, the book is written by one of the docs I served with in Iraq: MAJ Dave Hnida. While he was with us for only three months of our tour, they were some of the busiest three months thanks to "the surge". I had several friends praise the book after they read it when it came out, but I never had a chance to get a copy and read it. After going through it today I really miss all those I was over there with and I really want to be back "over there" especially since I have several friends in Southeast Asia right now....

For anyone who wants to look it up on Facebook, and here's an interview from Memorial Day on the Today Show.