Some of my workmates and I had a discussion yesterday about the leftists in Philadelphia and their actions and statements on their constituents personal gun rights, moved me to come home and, again, assure myself why the 2ndA even exists, and why it is very important for Americans to understand their history. Our commenting on "assault rifles" really peaked my interest and the question of why one would ever "need" such a thing.
Some history:
"The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. They were fought on April 19, 1775, in Middlesex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, within the towns of Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, Menotomy (present-day Arlington), and Cambridge, near Boston. The battles marked the outbreak of open armed conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and its thirteen colonies in the mainland of British North America.
About 700 British Army regulars, under Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith, were ordered to capture and destroy military supplies that were reportedly stored by the Massachusetts militia at Concord. Dr. Joseph Warren alerted the colonists of this. The Patriot colonists had received intelligence weeks before the expedition which warned of an impending British search, and had moved much, but not all, of the supplies to safety. They had also received details about British plans on the night before the battle, and information was rapidly supplied to the militia." -->
Notice the reason why the Brits were there,"were ordered to capture and destroy military supplies that were reportedly stored by the Massachusetts militia at Concord". They were there to take rifles that were both of military value and not, they were there to take ammunition, and they were there to take anything of military value that could be used by the "militia"(read:anyone able to pick up a firearm and defend themselves from the tyrannical forces of a tyrannical King)in order to rend the colonists defenseless.
In Philadelphia, is this not what the City gov wants to do to its people? Gather up any weapons they deem unnecessary for the people to have? Would not a rapid fire easy handling carbine of medium power fit the need of those(the militia)needing a weapon in their own defense from tyrannical forces? Do not the police forces of Philadelphia have such weapons in their arsenals? Sure. And why? Self preservation in case they are confronted by armed criminals, correct? So, why is the life of someone in possession of a badge more valuable than my own? Or yours? Or our families? Unless you have your own bodyguard(s), as those in gov who try to force restrictive, illegal gun laws on their citizens do, I would suggest armament of this type fits the bill. It did in the 1700's, it does now. The weapons of that day were a reflection of what the military of England carried into Lexington, the AR15 or SKS of the private citizen today reflects what a tyrannical force would carry into any American hometown.
Also, the state constitution of Pennsylvania and the Constitution of the United States both state that the people of both great entities will never have there firearm rights infringed upon. Lets not forget that.
For those who would say that we have nothing to worry about from our own gov, I would say we only have to look back at the roving heavily armed police and other security apparatus during the aftermath of Katrina gathering up firearms from the public to understand what the 2ndA means to the survival of freedom.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-taU9d26wT4
