From the Voice News 11/11/1999

http://www.thevoicenews.com/issue/real_men.html

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 the shots,
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 the 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 that 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!