RBESRQ...You miss the point. I am saying that We the People have no force to defend ourselves if we do not possess the right to bear arms. And I find this right in the 2nd Amendmendment of the Constitution of the United States. "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."

That's exaclty why the government has, through the years, limited our right to property, regulated our right to bear arms and degraded the American Spirit that fired the Shot Heard Around the World. We the People must reignite that spark, reestablish Our gun rights, and reclaim Our property. This has been done before by men like Washington and Jefferson. I pray that similar people emerge and inspire We the People to accept the responsibility of justice and do our duty as free citizens.

RBESRQ...In previous comments on the recent gun rights quotes you have made your position clear that you believe We the People should no longer have the right to bear arms. But here, you speak of exacting force on our oppressors in order to preserve liberty. What force does an unarmed populous have over any government? You say here that it is sad that we lay down our sword and surrender. But previously you have advocated that we do just that by giving up our guns. I somewhat agree with what you have written here, but I am puzzled by your philosophy. You seem, at times, to contradict yourself. If it is liberty that you fight for, then fight for it in its entirety. There is no half-free citizens; you are either bessed with liberty, or damned with servitude. When one right is taken, another will soon follow, so in order to preserve a single right of freedom, you must respect all the others.

This is the foundation of all troubles faced by governments and societies throughout history in every corner of the earth. Too often a man's ambition trumps his concience; too often passion overrules reason. We as a nation must not think of what is owed to ourselves by our government or our neighbors. We must plow our own row and eat our own bread. We must not allow our own greed to cloud our vision of the true meaning of justice. We must make justice our foundation and stand upon it through thick and thin no matter what it gives or takes. This must be the purpose of every government and the mission for every citizen of mankind because true justice is the will of the Supreme Governor so it is always beneficial to society as well as every rightous individual within it.

RBESRQ...Who do you advocate to rewrite the Constitution? The current administation and Congress which is ever so entangled in coruption? These are the people who have won favor with the citizens to capture their current positions so it cannot be doubted that they will also do so with a task as important as rewriting the Constitution. The results of which could only cause more troubles and oppression than we bear today. Best leave the Constitution as it stands until a more enlightened generation sees fit to change it. This may never come to pass until the republic has fallen because the wisdom of founders was gained by the trials they faced during their lives; trials that come from carrying the yoke of a tyrannical government. When our government becomes tyrannical enough to open the eyes of every citizen under its reign, we will be armed with the necessary knowledge to alter or abolish it and establish new guards for our future security. Until then we must strictly enforce the Constitution we have.

Jim...Jury Nullification existed even when this nation was under British rule. Many of the revolutionaries were arrested and tried in court for breaking laws constructed by the crown to strengthen control over the colonies. The citizens often used jury nullification to ensure the accused was not convicted and to show their disapproval of the law. This also occured during alcohol prohibition. In fact, it happened almost 60% of the time; enough that it contributed a great deal to the repeal of prohibition. I agree that few know of this power and few, if any judge, will inform them of it.

Wise and noble statesmen will not always be at the helm. Our Constitution was written by a wise generation that kept this in mind. They inserted within it numerous checks in which We the People could ensure the government remains one of justice. But justice in the life and conduct of the state is only possible if it first resides in the hearts and souls of the citizens. Any faults in our present situation are due to our own neglect and ignorance of the responsibilities of liberty and self government. We must be advocates of justice. We must study the history of liberty; the circumstances of its life and the causes of its death. We must spread this doctrine through every media at our disposal for every ear to hear, eye to see, and heart to believe. We must defend our rights against anything that wishes to invade them. This is our primary duty as free citizens. To pass this task to the government is to ensure its failure and promote the reign of tyranny. When this time comes, liberty will exist only as a distant and distorted memory.

Waffler...Liberty in this country and in every other throughout the course of human events was won by the tip of a sword or the barrel of a gun. Nowhere has true liberty ever been given or preserved without the force of the people. What force does the people have without the right to bear arms? You say we have the right to vote. Sure we do, until the government decides that we don't. Governments everywhere in every era have grown closer to despotism throughout their entire lives. Eventually, despotism is acheived, and the civil road to liberty is cut off, leaving the People with only one option, to take it by the sword. The last check possessed by We the People on the government, is our ability to destroy it.

The term "turn the other cheek" used by Christ does not mean to not defend yourself when in harm. During that time a slap on the cheek was a form of insult. What He means is if someone is insulting you, let it be, do not retaliate with more insults.

Carol...Of course they believe what they write. Many of the socialists that cry out for the suffocating security blanket of big government, truly trust that such power would be beneficial to us all. Many socialists are good people with good intentions. However, it is results, not intentions, that impact mankind. Whether the intentions are good or bad, the results are the same; they are equally contrary to the cause of liberty. Therefore, we should disregard what we think they're intentions are, stand up for what is right, and pray the Almighty assists us in our endeavors.

Carol...I also do not believe we are a nation of cowards. Americans have been criticized throghout the world as being a nation of complainers; a people who are never satisfied with the status quo, always looking for improvement; a populous who never ceases to list our greivances. If we were nation of cowards, we would quietly accept trespasses of our rights and bow down in the face of tyranny. It is true that we have lost some battles for our rights, but we haven't stopped fighting. That's something that every American should be proud of. The problem with this country is that too many of us can no longer tell the difference between right and wrong, between a right and a privilege, between what is beneficial and what is tyrannical. It is a lack of wisdom, not a lack of courage that has brought us to the state of current events.

RBESRQ...In case you haven't seen it, I left you a comment on yesterday's first quote. Can you answer the questions?

Waffler...What Carlton said is correct in that the wild west was nothing of what we see on television. Many people did carry guns, but they were viewed as tools for life not death. They carried their arms for the same reason that I do, to protect life. In fact, criminals of that time feared the population more that the law. They had the knowledge that just reaching for that gun to commit a crime could get them killed by the many other guns around them. Do you know anything of the Younger gang that were notorious bank robbers? They were eventually brought to justice not by officials of the law but by law abiding citizens, by an armed populous. That's why Jesse James often just took the money that belonged to the railroad and left that which belonged to the citizens. Crimes are too often commited when law enforcement is nowhere to be found, but there is usually someone nearby. Why not give them the tools needed to ensure justice and provide for the common defence?

Coinciding with a surge in gun purchases that began shortly before the 2008 elections, violent crime decreased six percent between 2008 and 2009, including an eight percent decrease in murder and a nine percent decrease in robbery. Since 1991, when violent crime peaked, it has decreased 43 percent to a 35-year low. Murder has fallen 49 percent to a 45-year low. At the same time, the number of guns that Americans own has risen by about 90 million. Predictions by gun control supporters, that increasing the number of guns, particularly handguns and so-called “assault weapons,” would cause crime to increase, have been proven profoundly lacking in clairvoyance.

All of you who do not believe the Creator would condone the ownership of firearms should look up Luke 22:36. "...let him who has no sword sell his robe and buy one."

Reston...There are well over 250 million privately-owned firearms in the U.S., including nearly 100 million handguns and tens of millions of “assault weapons”, and that number typically rises about 4 million per year. So, if you don't like your neighbor owning a firearm, you should move to the England that you love so dear.

The first thing an oppressive government does is disarm the citizens. It shows in history even before the invention of the gun. During the time of William Wallace, the king of England made it illegal for the Scottish people to own a sword or any other military weapon. Of course, the Scotts disobeyed the law and used those arms to gain freedom.

"For the first time in history, a civilized nation has full gun registration; it will make our streets safer, our police more efficient, and our people more cooperative. We are the first, and the world will follow our lead in the future."---adolf hitler--- Those of you who push for anti-gun laws and registration are agreeing with the poster child of evil. I'd rather throw my weight behind this, "Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence. The church, the plow, the prairie wagon, and citizen's firearms are indelibly related. From the hour the Pilgrims landed, to the present day, events, occurrences, and tendencies prove that to insure peace, security and happiness, the rifle and the pistol are equally indispensable. The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference; they deserve a place with all that's good. When firearms, go all goes; we need them every hour."---George Washington--

RBESRQ...Firearms are the cause of 1500 deaths per year, thats about 4 people (not just children) per day. However, swimming pools do cause nine children to die each day in the U.S. Should they be outlawed as well? More people die of suffocation each year due to respiratory blockages cause by food than by firearms. Should we make it illegal to eat without a medical professional present? More people die from fires too. Maybe we should ban lighters and matches. Nearly 15000 people die each year in the U.S. from falling. I guess we should also ban ladders and two-story buildings. But the number one cause of accidental deaths in this country at over 43000 per year is car accidents. Maybe we should go back to riding horses and walking.

RBESRQ...Read Federalist Paper No.46 by James Madison.

Waffler...These bailouts that you are so eager to speak of are not the work of a capitalist government. Capitalism says to let the failed company die. Its the socialist doctrine to use the people's money to purchase or gain control of private entities.

Imagine that you are a criminal that wants to rob a store. You only have two stores to choose from; one is in a town where everyone is required to own a firearm, the other is in a town that no one is allowed to own a firearm. Which one will you choose?

RBESRQ...The reason the American government stops other nations from having nuclear weapons is the same reason they try to prevent citizens from owning firearms, to accumulate more power. The difference is, we want America to be more powerful than other nations, we want our government to be so powerful internationally that we can defend ourselves from foreign invaders. However, we do not want the government to be more powerful than the entire body of its citizens. If it is, it can easily pass any law, take any right without consequence....."No TRULY FREE man will EVER be debarred the use of arms." ---Thomas Jefferson--- And Columbia has the highest murder rate, the US ranks in the twenties. Also, when comparing crime rates the statistics are somewhat skewed because many crimes like rape, assault, fraud, etc. are often not reported in other countries.

Waffler...With the right comes a responsibility. Those who take advantage of the right to bear arms have the responsibility of learning how to safely and effectively operate it. The ownership of a firearm is not a false security for those who accept this responsibility. And I have been close enough to the crimal minded to use a handgun and I didn't lose. I would have, had I been without it. I had no need to fire a single shot, just the mere presence of the firearm deterred action by the criminal and provided security to myself and my family.

"...when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."