but the supreme court has not agreed with you or thomas jefferson, apparently. they have allowed the states to regulate handguns and other weapons. they have not overturned a gun regulation of a single state legislature. in fact, they have held that the second amendment forbids a restriction on the right to bear arms by the federal government, but not by the individual states. it's a states' rights argument.
this could all be changing with DC v. Heller. oral arguments were a month or two ago. it seemed as if the court may declare a DC ban on handguns unconstitutional. but a central issue is that the ban is on owning a handgun altogether, not just a limit on carrying one. also, the DC ban doesn't single out assault rifles or a particular gun, it applies to any handgun (obviously, because most crime is committed with a pistol of some sort). i can see the court holding that bans on possession of normal firearms are unconstitutional. but i think the court will continue to allow regulation and restriction on carrying weapons.
what do you think about the word "militia" being in the second amendment? one of DC's arguments is that the second amendment is limited by its own wording. your argument seems to indicate that you would allow individuals to keep and carry any weapon they want. am i right? do you draw a line somewhere between a glock and an ak-47 or a bazooka? </p>
this could all be changing with DC v. Heller. oral arguments were a month or two ago. it seemed as if the court may declare a DC ban on handguns unconstitutional. but a central issue is that the ban is on owning a handgun altogether, not just a limit on carrying one. also, the DC ban doesn't single out assault rifles or a particular gun, it applies to any handgun (obviously, because most crime is committed with a pistol of some sort). i can see the court holding that bans on possession of normal firearms are unconstitutional. but i think the court will continue to allow regulation and restriction on carrying weapons.
what do you think about the word "militia" being in the second amendment? one of DC's arguments is that the second amendment is limited by its own wording. your argument seems to indicate that you would allow individuals to keep and carry any weapon they want. am i right? do you draw a line somewhere between a glock and an ak-47 or a bazooka? </p>