Man kills 2 police officers, is it a knee jerk reaction that there is debate to arm all police officers?

[Shooting Stars]

Originally Posted by ian6479

Here's another thing - how is the 2nd amendment allowing you to protect yourself from "the government" when the conservative members of society (typically 2nd amendment protectors) support current levels of spending on America's military (more than the rest of the world combined)? Is that not a public sector entity?

Those are two separate issues.

I'm am unequivocally against the wars we are engaged in. Not a fan of the Military Industrial Complex which seeks to perpetuate itself. I don't know what percentage of second amendment supporters are for current levels of spending. Even if it were 100%, their being wrong about the military issue doesn't automatically make them wrong about the second amendment issue.

I might point out that even though U.K. citizens are not concerned with any second amendment rights, the U.K. has supported us militarily on our road to ruin. How about that?

Originally Posted by ian6479

The reality is that is wasn't written to protect you from today's government. It was written as protection from a tyrannical king at a time where people where running around with bayonets. You should read the English bill of rights and think about the time in which it was written. It was never meant so that people could stroll into Walmart and pick up a semi automatic weapon.

The second amendment was written after we gained independence, so protection from the king wasn't an issue at that point. Of course, they had not forgotten that during the midst of the king's tyranny, he tried to have the citizens disarmed and blocked imports of ammunition.

Our forefathers very much intended us to defend ourselves from any tyrannical government, especially our own ...

Alexander Hamilton:

"If circumstances should at any time oblige the government to form an army of any magnitude, that army can never be formidable to the liberties of the people while there is a large body of citizens, little, if at all, inferior to them in discipline and the use of arms, who stand ready to defend their own rights and those of their fellow-citizens."

Noah Webster:

"Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States."

Patrick Henry:

"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined."

Richard Henry Lee:

"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."

James Madison:

"Americans have the advantage of being armed -- unlike the citizens of other countries where the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms."

George Mason:

"To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."