Second Amendment
Friday, June 27, 2008 -Constitution
In light of unfortunate
events in Minneapolis and with the United States
Supreme Court soon to weigh in on the Second
Amendment; that being "the right of the people to
keep and bear arms", I think it vital that we as
Minnesotans not only fight to preserve this right but
we too are reminded that there exists no such thing
as collective rights (something opponents of the
Second Amendment argue against). It is only the
individual who has rights. Because, let us be
reminded that any collective or group, be it large or
small, is comprised of nothing more than individuals;
each and every one having their rights as such. Any
collective right not extending to each and every
individual only leads the collective to hold
exclusive power over the individual. Be it known,
that such a practice runs counter to what it means to
live in a free society. The framers knew this and it
is for this very reason they preserved Life as the
first of our unalienable rights defined in our
nation’s Declaration of Independence. Our life; it is
solely ours to keep, to own, to preserve, and to
protect at all costs. And, while I may never choose
to look to a gun to protect my life or my property,
while celebrating our nation's Independence, I am
again reminded that I too will never cease in
preserving this right for my fellow
countrymen.