In Carl Scheuffele’s letter “Revise Second Amendment” (Our Readers’ Views, April 19) he mentions hunting twice and implies that the reason for the adoption of the Second Amendment was the necessity of having a firearm to hunt with. This is an often-stated point by those who want to restrict or eliminate gun ownership. It is of course completely false. It is misdirection. The founders understood that any and all governments have the potential and even the tendency to devolve into tyranny. They thoughtfully put in place many checks and balances and safeguards to prevent and/or combat tyranny. The Second Amendment is one of those safeguards. It was never about hunting.
It is reasonable for us to have a discussion about gun ownership but let us stick to the facts and not invent history. In one way the United States is no more special than any other country on the planet. We have that potential to move toward tyranny when safeguards are removed. If we do not understand that we are one step closer to it happening.
