In response to two letter writers who supported an unfettered right of all citizens to bear arms under any circumstances (Our Readers’ Views, May 2), they need to read the full wording of the Second Amendment, which is as follows:
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
The framers of our Constitution had no expectation that the “arms” of the future would include high-powered rapid-fire weapons that could kill 30 or so people a minute. They did not know that some “citizens” of the future would use such terrible “arms” as tools to kill innocent children, teachers — even security officers — in schools, grocery stores, churches and synagogues.
What they intended was that citizens should be able protect themselves against violent aggression. To argue that reasonable restrictions on gun ownership and use are not allowed by the Constitution is total nonsense and I respectfully disagree.
