A 2nd Amendment question – since this is coming up again before the Supreme Court.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/judicial/2010-02-26-gun-control-laws_N.htm

First the text of the 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.”

1. Even though the amendment is just 1 sentence long, the meaning has never seemed obvious or clear to me.

2. I am not sure where I stand on this. On the one hand, it seems to make sense to control obviously dangerous weapons in crowded urban areas and public settings. On the other hand, people should have the right to defend themselves and there is some truth to the saying that if guns are criminalized only criminals will have guns.

3. But what do pro-gun advocates actually believe? That all weapons should be allowed? Rifles? Handguns? Machine guns? Shoulder launched missiles? Personal nuclear weapons? The amendment doesn’t specify that.

doug