For those who support "gun rights"

[Atypical Liberal]

14. My contribution

1) Please define "gun rights" in your own words.

The right to self-defense is a universal, natural right of all sentient beings. Moreover, being armed is the mark of a free person. It is much harder to compel an armed person to do things harmful to his interests than one who is not armed.

I believe that people should be able to bear small arms suitable for self-defense, sport, and military use.

2) Please explain how you interpret the 2nd amendment to grant "gun rights."

The US Constitution does not grant rights, it enumerates them. The rights listed in the Constitution are understood to be pre-existing.

The second amendment is a very simple, easy to understand right. It says that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. It gives a reason why - militia service to preserve the security of free states. This means that the people are to bear arms that at least are capable of allowing them to serve as military forces in an emergency.

Note that the second amendment does not stipulate that militia service is the only reason to keep and bear arms.

3) Please give an example of how a regulation has personally infringed your "gun rights."

I am fortunate in that I have lived most of my life in the South, which has very liberal firearm laws, so I have been largely immune from any impact by anti-gun laws.

The Assault Weapons Bill elevated the prices of assault rifles, and forced me to buy one that had the bayonet lug and threads on the muzzle ground off, but otherwise it was the same as it was before the ban.

Every time I buy a new firearm I am compelled to get permission from the federal government, which marks me as a firearm owner, which undermines the intent of the second amendment by giving the government a list of firearm owners.

I have hesitated in obtaining a CCW permit because this also puts me on a list of firearm owners and undermines the second amendment.