NEW CASTLE —
Editor, The News:
The Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States follows:
“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.”
My interpretation of those words means that members of the militia have the right to bear arms, but my reading of those words runs counter to popular and accepted meaning.
I even extend my reading of the meaning to limit the ownership of the guns to the militia and not the individual members.
Of course, the hunters, target shooters and those who insist on the protection provided by owning guns will shout me down for such an un-American view, but I have no objection to those uses of guns. But there seem to be people who think that, if given the opportunity, the government will take guns from citizens, and then somehow take over and put us into servitude, because there would be no way to defend ourselves.
The News’ front-page article Jan. 5 stated gun owners fear government may be conspiring to take away their arms, and the article noted that guns are in short supply because of such high demand.
The article included an excellent photo of the popular AR-15 semiautomatic rifle, which was used in the Newtown killings and the movie theater killings in Denver.
But nothing will curtail constitutional rights to own assault weapons. People will continue to have the questionable security of packing heat and perhaps someday someone will be able to stop a killer and be the hero of the moment.
But owners should learn how to properly use their guns and carefully aim away from me.
May I suggest a new slogan for the omnipotent NRA? “A gun for every book bag.”
Gary F. Shaffer
East Hazelcroft Avenue
New Castle
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One person’s reading of Second Amendment
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