Sharon Angle- Ignorance in Action

Nevada Republican Senate candidate Sharon Angle:

"You know, our Founding Fathers, they put that Second Amendment in there for a good reason and that was for the people to protect themselves against a tyrannical government."

I've written about this before, so I won't repeat myself, but this is completely false. If Ms. Angle, and the rest of the dimwit conservatives who repeat this talking point, and who squawk on and on about the founding fathers, had bothered to read Federalist Paper #29, they would know that they are completely wrong about every aspect of the "well regulated militia."

Ignorance is bliss. For the ignorant, I guess. Not for the rest of us.

Comments

Why do I feel like I am repeating myself? Hamilton was discussing the existence of standing armies and the Federal governments possible recruitment of local militias in wartime. Antifederalists were terrified of standing armies under the control of the Federal government, so Hamilton was attempting to ease those fears.

Also, you must look at the meanings of the words which he uses. When he says "regulated" this does not mean controlled, limited, or governed; "regulated" means "trained". Hamilton was suggesting the possible arming and training of local militias (all able bodied males). Sounds like the draft, does it not?

"Let us recollect that peace or war
will not always be left to our option;
that however moderate or unambitious we may be,
we cannot count upon the moderation, or
hope to extinguish the ambition of others. ...
The best we can hope for concerning the people
at large is that they be properly armed."

~Alexander Hamilton

Surely you aren't suggesting Hamilton didn't support the private ownership of firearms?
magpie said…
Okay Derek...

Send your thug militias over to Iraq or Afghanistan where they can trip up some roadside bombs, and thus spare the lives of some real soldiers who are actually serving their country (at least for their part).
Green Eagle said…
Derek, we've been around this before. You were lying then, and you are lying now. I quoted extensively from Hamilton's comments, which ran totally contrary to your (and the stupid teabaggers') claims, and I am not going to waste my time again. Anyone who wants proof of your dishonesty is free to click on the link I provided and see what it really says.
"Send your thug militias over to Iraq"

I have no thug militias and don't understand what you are attempting to argue.

"I quoted extensively from Hamilton's comments, which ran totally contrary to your (and the stupid teabaggers') claims"

You took his words out of context and misinterpreted the meaning of "regulated".

Just for clarification, all Fed #29 aside, do you believe Hamilton believed in the private ownership of firearms?

Besides, this was before the official drafting of the US Constitution and most of Hamilton's opposition to the Bill of Rights came from the fear that these would eventually be viewed as the only rights people had.

A well regulated militia, being necessary for the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. People, not militia, people.

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