Letter: Tune up the Second Amendment

Im all for American citizens having the right to own guns, but I have some thoughts about the Second Amendment and the ongoing discussion concerning the right to keep and bear arms.

Theres no way the Founding Fathers could have envisioned what features firearms would eventually have multi-round magazines, semi-automatic or fully automatic firing mechanisms and the potential dangers associated with those and other features.

Because of that, Id suggest we maintain the right to keep and bear arms but limit the possession of them to the ones that were in existence when the Second Amendment was written in 1791. That is, muzzle-loading, black-powder flintlocks.

In this way, we could keep the spirit of the amendment without the inherent dangers that have developed over the past 215 years or so as a result of technology. I predict that if this plan is implemented drive-by shootings will become rare or nonexistent and well stop wasting so much time and energy on the concealed carry debate.

Wed still have firearms to protect ourselves against home invasion and those who hunt could continue to do so. Of course, theyll have to get closer to their target.

I know some will say gun ownership by the citizens is necessary in the event we need to take back our country from Washington liberals, defeat jack-booted thugs, repel foreign invaders or deal with whatever imaginary threats are currently in vogue. Thats an effective merchandising argument for the firearm manufacturers, but the belief that its possible for a loosely organized assembly of well-intentioned, enthusiastic and minimally trained patriots (not a well-regulated militia) to repel an army of military or law enforcement professionals is delusional, and a little goofy to say the least.

Its time to tune up the Second Amendment.

RUSSELL L. GRAY JR. , Topeka

See the rest here:
Letter: Tune up the Second Amendment