I read with interest the article about the recent Supreme Court Bruen decision (“Turmoil in courts on gun laws in wake of justices’ ruling,” The Columbian, Feb. 19) about gun ownership defaulted (aka punted) to “What would the Framers want?”
That is actually a very appealing approach. I did a mental exercise and put myself in a Framer’s shoes. If I were a Framer, I would want every able-bodied man to have a musket, powder, flints, and lead shot. And since possession of a firearm was for the purpose of maintaining a militia, every man would be required to serve in a militia.
Women were, in the Framers’ time, second-class citizens, more possessions than people, so women should not be allowed to possess guns. No Framer ever considered having the military weapons that proliferate today so those need to be outright banned. A good step in the right direction would be an exchange program, every pistol or rifle turned in would be exchanged for a muzzle loader and an opportunity to sign up for one of the military branches as a reservist. Since the Supreme Court has decided that the Framers knew best, I think they may be on to something.
