willshak wrote:

| Why is it that some believe that the US Constitution guarantees
| weapons ownership?

Because it does (in the last fourteen words of what you've quoted
below.)

| Most of these people have never read the law, and those that have
| read it, completely ignore the first clause of the sentence.
| "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".

That first clause is the rationale for what follows. If you don't
understand the motivation, a review of colonial history will
contribute to your appreciation of the principles involved. You might
find a review of the grievances listed in the Declaration of
Independence illuminating. The authors of the Constitution ensured
that citizens would be empowered to say "No!" to tyranny - both from
outside and from within our borders.

If you want to rebut by pointing out that there is no tyranny, then I
give you my very happiest smiley. :-)

| How many gun owners belong to a "well regulated militia"?

I, and a great many others here, have so belonged. I was a gun owner
before, during, and after so belonging - not much different from
millions of other Americans. Like those others I took an oath to
preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and I intend to keep
that oath. You might prefer that I do so with a pitchfork or club, but
the authors of the Constitution preferred otherwise and gave their
preference force of law.

My _preferred_ weapons are keyboard and ballot.

--
Morris Dovey
Declaration of Independence: www.iedu.com/mrd/07041776.html
Constitution: www.iedu.com/mrd/Constitution.html