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On January 29, 1961, President John F. Kennedy spoke words that remain to be true to this day. He spoke about the importance of the 2nd Amendment and why it must not be subverted in any way. To disagree with what he said would be futile. People on the left who want to abolish the 2nd Amendment or slowly whittle it away in bits and pieces should be wise to take Kennedy's words as the gospel. If any of you disagree with JFK's quote on why we need to take up arms, please explain why.
"the battle for American freedom was begun by the thousands of farmers and tradesmen who made up the Minute Men -- citizens who were ready to defend their liberty at a moment's notice. Today we need a nation of minute men; citizens who are not only preparedtotake up arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as a basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom. The cause of liberty, the cause of American, cannot succeed with any lesser effort."
Here I am, a leftist. I'm not sure what sort of response you're seeking. One thing I'll say is that most leftists, as far as I can tell, have no wish at all to dismantle the 2nd amendment. We DO want the right to acknowledge the first half of the amendment, though! Ultimately I'd be looking for a clarification about what a well-regulated militia actually is, a definition we might all agree on. Then move on from there. The left seems to be OK (I certainly am) with hunting, target shooting and gun collecting. It's the mass murders we don't like, and the military weapons in private hands. You may be interpreting Kennedy as meaning that we should all have the means to fight a tyrannical US gov't -- maybe he did mean that. But private citizens in today's world would not succeed against US military might, should it ever come to that. That, to me, is a fantasy. That's where we probably disagree.
This year, the celebrations of Roosevelt Day has special significance for Democrats everywhere; for we celebrate not only the triumphs of the past but the opportunities of the future.
Twenty-eight years ago Franklin Roosevelt assumed the leadership of a stricken and demoralized nation. Poverty, distress and economic stagnation blanketed the land. But it was not long before the great creative energies of the New Deal had lifted American from its despair and set us on the path to new heights of prosperity, power and greatness.
Today American is the richest nation in the history of the world. Our power and influence extend around the globe. Yet the challenges and dangers which confront us are even more awesome and difficult than those that face Roosevelt. And we too will need to summon all the energies of our people and the capacities of our leaders if America is to remain a great and free nations -- if we are to master the opportunities of the New Frontier.
The dimensions of out problems overwhelm the imagination. At home millions are unemployed and the growth of our economy has come to a virtual halt.Abroad, we are faced with powerful and unrelenting pressure which threaten freedom in every corner of the globe, and with military power so formidable that it menaces the physical survival of our own nation.
To meet these problems will require the efforts not only of our leaders or of the Democratic Party--but the combined efforts of all of our people.; No one has a right to feel that, having entrusted the tasks of government to new leaders in Washington, he can continue to pursue his private comforts unconcerned with American's challenges and dangers. For, if freedom is to survive and prosper, it will require the sacrifice, the effort and the thoughtful attention of every citizen.
In my own native state of Massachusetts, the battle for American freedom was begun by the thousands of farmers and tradesmen who made up the Minute Men -- citizens who were ready to defend their liberty at a moment's notice. Today we need a nation of minute men; citizens who are not only prepared to take up arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as a basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom. The cause of liberty, the cause of American, cannot succeed with any lesser effort.
It is this effort and concern which makes up the New Frontier. And it is this effort and concern which will determine the success or failure not only with Administration, but of our nation itself.
Source: White House Central Subject Files, Box 111, "FDR".
"While we recognize that assault weapon legislation will not stop all assault weapon crime, statistics prove that we can dry up the supply of these guns, making them less accessible to criminals. We urge you to listen to the American public and to the law enforcement community and support a ban on the further manufacture of these weapons."
JFK was one of us, a gun nut. He was also a staunch anti-commie. And he cut taxes on the rich.
As President, he took a personal interest in the switchover from M14 to M16. He had an AR 15 that was presented to him by Colt, which he used to plink at floating objects from his boat. I bet he would spin in his grave if he could see the amount of moronic gun control that was enacted starting after his murder.
Read it again. JFK wasn't calling for people to assemble arsenals at home. In context (see ovcatto's post above) he was talking about global and external threats and Americans willingness to enlist to defend freedom and to support the military.
I have read this speech now a few times. I think its a reach to say it was affirming the 2nd. imo. And why the left, er anybody wants to fixate on just a part of the 2nd is beyond me. It was the FULL intent of the founders for people to own weapons. period. its that simple. quit the national guard bs. It doesn't matter what army it was for. People had guns in there homes without any infringements. Simple really.
Were this speech about the second amendment, how come he never mentions the second amendment?
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Simple really.