If the Second Were First

December 1, 2002

by Brian W. Peterson

Imagine for a moment that liberals viewed the Second Amendment with the same reverence reserved for the First Amendment: Laws would be passed to keep gun prices low. Programs would be enacted to subsidize gun purchases for low-income families. The NRA’s “Eddie Eagle” gun safety program would be mandatory for first-graders everywhere.

Numerous states have laws that blatantly and unconstitutionally infringe upon the gun rights of law-abiding citizens. Turn the tables for a moment and imagine that states were allowed to mangle our revered First Amendment in the same manner that they mangle the Second Amendment.

Imagine if Alabama were allowed to ban all schoolbooks that reference religions other than Christianity. Perhaps Montana would mandate that only registered Republicans could be allowed as schoolteachers. California might disallow all public demonstrations against government policies.

This is exactly what has happened to the Second Amendment, and yet liberals defend the unconstitutional encroachments with vigor.

Set aside for a moment the problem that much of the First Amendment has been badly misinterpreted over the past forty years. The fact is, while indeed an important facet of our Constitution, the First Amendment is often what comes to mind first to people when our hallowed document is cited. Many people know little of the rest of the Constitution.

Meanwhile, the plain language of the Second Amendment is professed to be confusing for those who oppose our Constitution. The whole “well regulated Militia” thing gets liberals excited. They like the thought of regulating. Of course, with no understanding of the history behind the amendment and its wording, confusion is easily peddled to the masses.

It has been said that “common sense” is not very common. No argument on that one. “Common sense” gun control - where’s the common sense in opposing the Constitution? - means banning pump-action shotguns and forcing gun owners under the age of 25 to pass psychological tests, according to Donna Dees-Thomases. Donna is Sen. Hillary Clinton’s friend who organized the Million (it was more like One Hundred Thousand) Mom March.

“Common sense” knows no bounds to the pick-and-choose liberals. Parts of the Constitution are okay, other parts are not.

Ms. Dees-Thomases is so open minded that gray matter has leaked out. Without pump-action shotguns, quail and pheasant are safe from me, but people are left to fend for themselves until the police are able to show up. But she and her ilk aren’t terribly concerned with your safety. A little collateral damage for the cause is not a big deal.

The Constitution-haters have put themselves into the cozy position of claiming to revere our founding document while they butcher it. Liberal lawyers have turned the “Establishment Clause” on its head and made a mockery of “shall not be infringed.” As that great liberal, former New York senator Patrick Moynihan, famously said, we may have the right to bear arms, but there’s no right to purchase ammunition. Common sense, liberal style.

Face it; outside of the First and Second Amendments and one section of the Fifth Amendment, few know much about the Constitution. Some people have an understanding of the Fourth and Eighth Amendments, but who knows what the Ninth and Tenth Amendments guarantee?

The truth is, most people do not truly understand the First and Second Amendments, or their intent. They understand “free speech,” yet fail to understand what the Founding Fathers meant by “speech.” They understand “freedom of religion,” yet also believe that the “separation of church and state” is in the Constitution.

If the average American fails to understand basic freedoms, is it any wonder that they do not protest when they gradually lose such freedoms? Mason, Adams, et al. weren’t thinking about my penchant for eating pheasant when they penned the Second Amendment. They also had the common sense to equally revere the entire Constitution.

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Brian W. Peterson writes a political column for the Antelope Valley Press (circulation approximately 60,000) in Palmdale, California. He is a graduate of Oral Roberts University, where he majored in TV/Film. Brian’s weekly commentary and newspaper columns can be found at www.LifeAndLiberty.com.

Send the author an E mail at Peterson@ConservativeTruth.org.

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