Summer’s End. Lexington Green, 11 September 2002. Photo taken in Minute Man National Historical Park. Sculpture : “Minuteman” by sculptor Henry Hudson Kitson (1863-1947), dedicated April 19, 1900. Erected 1899 : SIRIS
I believe this image explains America’s issue with gun control as well as any that I’ve seen. In our hearts, we’re still minutemen, passionately defending the right to bear arms so we can throw off the oppression of a distant, unresponsive government.
No question in my mind that that is exactly what the constitution is talking about.
Unfortunately, tragedy still haunts us, even though we threw off the shackles of that government long ago. I believe we’re about to see a very frank discussion in the federal government about the limits of the 2nd Amendment. For example … do you believe that a suspected terrorist should have the right to buy a gun in America? They do.
But here is what American thinks, according to a 2009 study by The Word Doctors conducted by Dr Frank Luntz and commissioned by Mayors Against Illegal Guns:
With such overwhelming support among all Americans — including NRA members — why do we still allow gun sales to suspected terrorists? If they can’t fly in an airplane, why should they be able to purchase an assault rifle?
In September, 2008, President Obama said: “I believe in the Second Amendment…. I will not take your shotgun away. I will not take your rifle away. I won’t take your handgun away… I am not going to take your guns away.”
Perhaps he should have said … well, something a bit less right of center? I can’t imagine that he was lying at the time. You know how I feel about that.
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Kudos to a great blog, Millard Fillmore’s Bathtub, which is where I first saw the photo of the “Minuteman.”
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