In response to the Feb. 21 letter to the editor "Citizens have a right to be armed," I beg to differ from the respondent. Nothing irks me more than seeing a bumper sticker with the words that go something like "you can take my gun out of my cold dead hands." With the millions of unnecessary weapons in citizen's homes and on the streets, I have no doubt someone out there is willing to oblige.

Where did this "right to bear arms" by any citizen who has the funds to purchase or the propensity to obtain one illegally come from? They simple twist the actual intent of Amendment II of the U.S. Constitution. We should all take a closer look at the language of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which states; "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." We all know from our history lessons the militia was the predecessor of our National Guard, now part of the Department of Defense. Today our Department of Defense is the "well regulated militia" and it is they who are charged by the people, for the people, to ensure the security of our free and sovereign state.

Through necessity, and through additional laws of the people, for the people, this right to bear arms is also extended to our other forms of well regulated militias, such as our policing agencies. If you want to "bear arms" in defense of our great nation, then join me, and my fellow military, police, and other various security personnel by putting on a uniform, and becoming a member of the 21st century "well regulated militia." If not, then owning weapons and turning your home into an arsenal is a privilege, not a right.
JUDITH H. MCLAUGHLIN


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