Armed citizenry

The meaning of the Second Amendment is clear if a person does some basic reading of the many articles and letters written by the amendment’s authors. The phrase “well regulated” is not meant to mean closely monitored and controlled by the government, but properly working. It still has that definition.

As to who the militia are, Patrick Henry said: “The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able might have a gun.” Trenche Cox, in the The Pennsylvania Gazette of Feb. 20, 1788, wrote: “Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? … The unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people.”

There are many other examples. The “well regulated militia” is not the National Guard or any other standing army but the citizenry, trained in the use, care and storage of arms. An armed citizenry is part of the checks and balances of our government.

Saying that Chicago had more murders than the Iraq war had deaths is an appropriate example. Chicago has the strictest gun-control laws in the nation, yet is a leader in gun crimes. Last year, there were about 16,000 murders in the United States. Consider that fact in the context of between 400,000 and 2 million instances (depending on the study) where people have successfully used their own firearms in self-defense.

DAVID GASKILL

Holt