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The right to bear arms was never for the purposes of overthrowing a government. It was given in order to establish militias, which the government can use to pr

The right to bear arms was never for the purposes of overthrowing a government. It was given in order to establish militias, which the government can use to prevent insurrections and invasions, per section 8 of the US constitution. No government allows its citizens the right to overthrow it. I have no idea why people think that? Do you?

Turing_Machine 11y ago
"I have no idea why people think that? Do you?" Because they had, in fact, just overthrown an oppressive government. I have no idea why you think the founders did not consider that potential outcome. Jefferson even said "God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion". Can you think of another example of the right of the militia to bear arms ever being codified, anywhere in the world? Why would it need to be? The right is specifically stated as being one of the people's rights. The militia is a reason, not the subject. If the First Amendment had read "A well educated Legislature, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and read Books, shall not be infringed" would you argue that only legislators had the right to keep and read books? No, you would not. Nor would anyone else, because that would be a nonsensical interpretation.
- deleted 11y ago
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jgrowl 11y ago
"God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. … What country before ever existed a century and half without a rebellion? And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure." -Thomas Jefferson, Letter to William Stephens Smith (13 November 1787)
- mozumder 11y ago
  That's one individual's personal opinion. The official US government question was already answered the 1860's. Many people had the mistaken idea that government allowed them the right to rebel against it. About 600,000 people found out the hard way that it was never their right. People need to get their egos in check, because government always wins.

Turing_Machine 11y ago

"I have no idea why people think that? Do you?" Because they had, in fact, just overthrown an oppressive government. I have no idea why you think the founders did not consider that potential outcome. Jefferson even said "God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion". Can you think of another example of the right of the militia to bear arms ever being codified, anywhere in the world? Why would it need to be? The right is specifically stated as being one of the people's rights. The militia is a reason, not the subject. If the First Amendment had read "A well educated Legislature, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and read Books, shall not be infringed" would you argue that only legislators had the right to keep and read books? No, you would not. Nor would anyone else, because that would be a nonsensical interpretation.

deleted 11y ago
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jgrowl 11y ago

"God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion. The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. … What country before ever existed a century and half without a rebellion? And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure." -Thomas Jefferson, Letter to William Stephens Smith (13 November 1787)

mozumder 11y ago
That's one individual's personal opinion. The official US government question was already answered the 1860's. Many people had the mistaken idea that government allowed them the right to rebel against it. About 600,000 people found out the hard way that it was never their right. People need to get their egos in check, because government always wins.