Percival P. Cassidy wrote:
On 05/05/12 01:42 pm, Oren wrote:

Firearms (other than the very few that are bought solely for target
practice) have no purpose other than to kill humans or animals.
Motor vehicles are not designed to kill.

Perce

I beg to differ with you. My guns have never killed anything. Bullets
do the kilin' when and if essential.

So impose an enormous tax on ammunition.

The late Senator Patrick Moynihan proposed just that. Of course there is
reloading...


BTW, the Second Amendment states right up front why people should have
the right to bear arms. Have you signed up with your local militia?
Does your local militia commander know how to get in touch with you
to summon you for duty and what weapons you have and how well skilled
you are in their use? Do you report for training as required?

You demonstrate your ignorance. In the 18th century, "militia" was defined
as the totality of all free men available for military service. One did not
"sign up" to be in the militia, one WAS in the militia simply by existing.
If, by training, you refer to the "well regulated" part of the 2nd
Amendment, you again demonstrate ignorance. Remember, in the 18th century,
there were no "regulations" as we know them nor any group, such as taxi
cabs, to be "regulated." The word "regulated" at that time (and still does
today in some small measure) meant "a functionally acceptable mechanical
device, meeting usage requirements" as in a "well-regulated timepiece."

You are correct about one of the reasons for firearms being stated up front
in the 2nd Amendment. Of course the ability to defend the country is not the
only reason as the money part of the amendment makes clear: "... the right
of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."