If you're referring to the portion of the Second Amendment I quoted, I don't
believe it was taken out of context.  The reason I didn't quote the whole thing
is because I'm not certain of the exact wording, but here's the best I can do:
"A well-regulated militia, being essential to the security of a free state, the
right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."  The second
part spells out the right in question; the first part just explains one reason
why this right is necessary.

If you're going to give me the argument that the militia clause restricts the
right to the police and military, then I'm curious why "the people" has this
special meaning in this amendment, yet means "the citizens" everywhere else this
term is used.  Also, the Founding Fathers were depending not on a standing army
for national defense, but on an armed and prepared citizenry who could be
mobilized in time of need.  If we were really following their intent, all of us
not only would be allowed but REQUIRED to be armed and trained to use those arms
in time of emergency.  English villages once required able-bodied men to have
longbows and to practice with them publicly on a regular basis.  It's no
coincidence that the English longbowman was one of England's most effective
weapons before the widespread use of firearms.  I think our Founding Fathers had
something like this in mind for us.

I've changed the subject of this message, because I can't figure any way to
stretch e-commerce to cover this topic.  :-)  And my apologies to any non-US
readers who are tired of hearing us Yanks argue about our Constitution.

Wayne




"Karman, Al" <[log in to unmask]> on 07/11/2000 11:03:53 AM

Please respond to "Karman, Al" <[log in to unmask]>

To:   [log in to unmask]
cc:    (bcc: Wayne Brown/Corporate/Altec)

Subject:  Re: [HP3000-L] e-commerce in hype-rdrive



Does taking statements out of context, or using part of a statement to make
your point, help an argument's validity?

Reminds me how movie advertisements are generated....
Critic---This movie is a huge disappointment....Don't go!
Ad------This move is huge....go!


Al Karman
IT Consultant
US Freightways
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773.824.2284