Patrick:
You argued that gun control laws in the Netherlands (or is it *T*he
Netherlands?) don't infringe Jeroen's rights, since (in all
probability) the constitution of the Netherlands doesn't include a
specific provision that protects an individual's right to own guns.
I disagree.
These constitutions that we live under don't *grant* rights, they
*protect* rights. Our human rights exist regardless of government
actions. So if one believes that individual gun ownership is a
fundamental human right then that right exist whether or not a given
government recognizes that right.
Now, Dan. About that liiiitle comma in the 2nd amendment. I really
believe that you are reading to much into it. We know that grammar
standards change over time. What we need to do is look at what the
framers of the constitution thought the 2nd amendment meant. I mean,
the constitution prohibits Bills of Attainder. Well, in current usage
no one understands what that means. It could be argued that that
clause is therefore meaningless. But, we can read contemporary
documents to understand what the framers meant by that term.
Yes, the courts have upheld various restrictions on gun ownership, just
as they have upheld restrictions on free speech and religious
expression. That doesn't mean that the constitution doesn't protect
those rights.
=====
Darryl
Think Galactically -- Act Terrestrially
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