Dear elected office-holder or candidate,

I, being just an average citizen and no historian or Constitutional scholar, when puzzled as to how our government should conduct it's-self, find my answers in the minds of our country's founders.

It seems there is some confusion, in the minds of many of our current leaders, as to the true meaning of the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.

Amendment II

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

If, after you give this short amendment a good read, you somehow understand it to mean only the government's employees can have firearms, please do yourself a favor and ask the people who wrote it. Obviously, they have been dead for some time now, but you can still get your answers by reading their true thoughts and beliefs.

It seems to me, it takes a scholar or politician to twist the meaning of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, but us simple citizens have only to look towards the words and thoughts of the founders of our country to uncover the true meaning of those great men and their documents.

Would you please read the following? Then return your position on the second amendment, so I may make an enlightened decision at the polls.

No freeman shall ever be debarred the use of arms.
          ---Thomas Jefferson, 1776.

Laws that forbid the carrying of arms... disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes... Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.
          --- Jefferson's "Commonplace Book," 1774-1776

One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them.
          --- Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 1796.

A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks.
          --- Thomas Jefferson to Peter Carr, 1785.

We established however some, although not all its [self-government] important principles. The constitutions of most of our States assert, that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves, in all cases to which they think themselves competent, (as in electing their functionaries executive and legislative, and deciding by a jury of themselves, in all judiciary cases in which any fact is involved,) or they may act by representatives, freely and equally chosen; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed;
          ---Thomas Jefferson to John Cartwright, 1824.

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
          ---Benjamin Franklin, 1759.

To model our political system upon speculations of lasting tranquility, is to calculate on the weaker springs of the human character.
          ---Alexander Hamilton

The Constitution preserves the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation...(where) the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms.
          ---James Madison, The Federalist Papers #46.

To suppose arms in the hands of citizens, to be used at individual discretion, except in private self-defense, or by partial orders of towns, countries or districts of a state, is to demolish every constitution, and lay the laws prostrate, so that liberty can be enjoyed by no man; it is a dissolution of the government. The fundamental law of the militia is, that it be created, directed and commanded by the laws, and ever for the support of the laws.
          ---John Adams, 1787.

Here, every private person is authorized to arm himself, and on the strength of this authority, I do not deny the inhabitants had a right to arm themselves at that time, for their defense, not for offense...
          ---John Adams, 1770.

Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretence, raised in the United States. A military force, at the command of Congress, can execute no laws, but such as the people perceive to be just and constitutional; for they will possess the power, and jealousy will instantly inspire the inclination, to resist the execution of a law which appears to them unjust and oppressive.
          ---Noah Webster, 1787.

Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man against his own bosom. Congress have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American...The unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people.
          ---Tenche Coxe, 1788.

When the resolution of enslaving America was formed in Great Britain, the British Parliament was advised by an artful man, who was governor of Pennsylvania, to disarm the people; that it was the best and most effectual way to enslave them; but that they should not do it openly, but weaken them, and let them sink gradually...I ask, who are the militia? They consist of now of the whole people, except a few public officers. But I cannot say who will be the militia of the future day. If that paper on the table gets no alteration, the militia of the future day may not consist of all classes, high and low, and rich and poor...
          ---George Mason 1776.

The people are not to be disarmed of their weapons. They are left in full possession of them. ...
          ---Zacharia Johnson 1776.

The whole of that Bill of Rights is a declaration of the right of the people at large or considered as individuals...It establishes some rights of the individual as unalienable and which consequently, no majority has a right to deprive them of.
          ---Albert Gallatin, 1789.

The great object is, that every man be armed. Every one who is able may have a gun.
          --- Patrick Henry.

Are we at last brought to such an humiliating and debasing degradation that we cannot be trusted with arms for our own defense? Where is the difference between having our arms under our own possession and under our own direction, and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?
          --- Patrick Henry, 1836.

The militia, who are in fact the effective part of the people at large, will render many troops quite unnecessary. They will form a powerful check upon the regular troops, and will generally be sufficient to over-awe them.
          ---Tenche Coxe, 1787.

And that the said Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress to infringe the just liberty of the press, or the rights of conscience; or to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms…
          ---Samuel Adams, 1788.

... Whereas, to preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them...
          ---Richard H. Lee, 1788.

A Militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves, and render regular troops in a great measure unnecessary. ...
          ---Richard H. Lee, 1788.

“A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep, and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”
       This may be considered as the true palladium of liberty.... The right of self-defense is the first law of nature: in most governments it has been the study of rulers to confine this right within the narrowest limits possible.  Wherever standing armies are kept up, and when the right of the people to keep and bear arms is, under any color or pretext whatsoever, prohibited, liberty, if not already annihilated, is on the brink of destruction. 
          --- Henry St. George Tucker, 1803.

You need only reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the great struggle for independence.
          --Charles Austin Beard (1874-1948)

And a contemporary politician said:

Certainly one of the chief guarantees of freedom under any government, no matter how popular and respected, is the right of citizens to keep and bear arms.... The right of citizens to bear arms is just one guarantee against arbitrary government, one more safeguard against the tyranny which now appears remote in America but which historically has proven to be always possible."
          ---Senator Hubert H. Humphrey.

If you are an elected official or a candidate for office, please Click Here and inform me of your stand on the second amendment. Your response will determine my behavior at the polling place.

After your sucsessful election you will be expected to take the folowing oath of office:

''I, [your name], do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.''

You may want to practice it a few times now, just in case. But please remember the oath puts you in a position to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. It does not say to edit, change or interpret. Please remember this as you take your sworn oath. For, if you forget, and start misinterpreting or twisting our sacred Constitution, you may be violating the law, and could be removed from office, fined and/or jailed! (Article II Section 4 of the Constitution.) And US Code Title 18, sections 241 and 242. Which read, in part:

Sec. 241. Conspiracy against rights:
If two or more persons conspire to injure, oppress, threaten, or intimidate any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District in the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to him by the Constitution or laws of the United States. .They shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.

Sec. 242. Deprivation of rights under color of law:
Whoever, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, willfully subjects any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States. .shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

I wonder about those that have taken an oath to defend our Constitution, and why some don't do the honorable thing and resign their position, before some us decide to have them arrested.

Signed: Just a simple citizen