“The Founders Couldn’t Have Imagined Assault Rifles,” She Blogged

'Consistently, the dumbest argument put forward by gun control supporters is the idea that the Founding Fathers—one of the best-educated and most intelligent groups of men ever assembled in world history—simply couldn’t have imagined that modern firearms could be invented, and so that the natural right of citizens to own these rifles couldn’t possibly exist.'

They may not have envisaged cars or the internet either.Actually, I have always considered this as one of their lamest arguments.


Source: https://bearingarms.com/bob-o/2017/04/04/founders-couldnt-imagined-assault-rifles-blogged/

 

As does the SCotUS:

Some have made the argument, bordering on the frivolous, that only those arms in existence in the 18th century are protected by the Second Amendment . We do not interpret constitutional rights that way. Just as the First Amendment protects modern forms of communications, e.g., Reno v. American Civil Liberties Union, 521 U. S. 844, 849 (1997) , and the Fourth Amendment applies to modern forms of search, e.g., Kyllo v. United States, 533 U. S. 27, 35–36 (2001) , the Second Amendment extends, prima facie,to all instruments that constitute bearable arms, even those that were not in existence at the time of the founding.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/07-290.ZO.html

Hand George Washington an M16, he'll understand what it is in a fraction of an instant.
Hand him a cell phone, and he won't have a clue, even after you explain it to him.

 

Some repeating firearms in existence at ratification:

Pepperbox revolver, 1780
Girandoni 20 shot repeating rifle, 1780
Cardiff superposed musket, 1682
Belton repeating flintlock, 1777 (100 actually ordered by Congress)
Puckle gun, 1718

All electronic communication and data storage devices in existence at ratification:

[null]

 

Such was actually about to be presented for review.

 

I wonder how the Founders feel about Pornhub. I'm sure they saw that one coming. Ahem.

 

I'm sure that the FF understood e-mail, phishing, wiretapping, identity theft, and using cell phones and smart TVs to spy on people.

 

The Founders understood that following generations, would have the honor of adjusting legislation, to suit the times.

 

The key word here being "legislation" as opposed to judicial activism.

 

"Adjusting legislation" is fine if the adjustment is Constitutional. If it is not, then an Amendment to the Constitution is required. You can't "adjust" the Constitution on a whim.

 

If you read the Federalist Papers, the Founding Fathers spoke of the people being "properly" armed. Properly armed meant being armed with equipment in common use at the time by the military and militia. Thus when the people are called to service as part of the unorganized militia any logistical problems of ammunition resupply or rifle repair would be minimized.
The proper arms for the "people" today would be an AR-15 in 5.56mm caliber and a Browning 9mm pistol. This is in perfect accordance with the Constitution and with the views of the Founding Fathers as laid out in the Federalist Papers.

And for those who think the unorganized militia isn't needed today I would point them to the news pictures of the riots in South LA many years ago and during the aftermath of Katrina. There were many pictures showing ARMED people banding together to protect their property and lives. That was the UNORGANIZED militia. The organized militia (i.e. the National Guard) were miles away and unable to control vast areas.

 

"Hide not your talents. They for use were made. What's a sundial in the shade?"

- Ben Franklin

 

He invented the Washington page.
lol......

 

Guns are a much bigger threat to public safety than when the Second Amendment was written. I think the Founding Fathers would have agreed with gun control advocates if they had boarded a time machine and visited the future.

"Some men look at constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, and deem them like the ark of the covenant, too sacred to be touched. They ascribe to the men of the preceding age a wisdom more than human, and suppose what they did to be beyond amendment...But I know also, that laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths disclosed, and manners and opinions change with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also, and keep pace with the times."
- Thomas Jefferson

 

you're just making stuff up now pretending that the founders would want federal gun control when there is absolutely no evidence of that. to those who support the creeping crud of collectivism-progress means less freedom. to those of us who support the enlightenment ideals of freedom, we don't support those who want more control.

you pretending Jefferson supports the BM is hilarious

 

You want to cherry pick and quote Jefferson where you think it supports you position? You are debating people far more versed in the Constitution and history of it's development than you...

would you like to try Paine, Madison, or Washington?

 

No argument.

 

At their time, you could own your own cannon. Come to think of it, you still can.

 

Why yes, we can.
A really nice black powder cannon, that is quite powerful.
Or if you do not mind that
pesky $ 200 Tax per round, some pretty big stuff.

 

BP works. With grapeshot...

 

I always liked the old Black Powder Blunderbus, very easy to load, lol, it almost became a Destructive Device !!!!

 

I'd suggest you have a look at the Belton flintlock, the "assault weapon" of it's time, and something the founding fathers were well aware of.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belton_flintlock

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/20...rs-knew-repeating-rifles-bill-rights-drafted/

 

Explain how so.

Meaningless speculation.

The above quote holds no relevance to the discussion. There is nothing contained within that would suggest the founding fathers of the untied states believed the united states constitution, and the bill of rights contained within, should be used as a manner of restricting legal activity, simply to address illegal activity.

 

And I believe that the Founding Fathers would have agreed with the most hardcore gun rights folks, and think we should all be allowed to have the same weapons that the military has.

They would think that the murder rate in the U.S. today to be fairly low.
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistori...hat_was_the_murder_rate_in_the_13_us_british/
http://www.earlyamericancrime.com/reviews/american-homicide

 

You cannot meaningfully support this opinion.

This is why the constitution can be amended,.
Let us know when that happens.

 

When I was younger, I built several BP guns, both pistols and rifles, acquiring barrels from a fellow who had a forge in Tennessee (don't remember his name), locks (a couple from an Brit maker), and other parts from either old pieces non functional pieces. I built one similar to a flint lock Hawken, in 54cal in the late 70's that with consistent loads could hit a coffee can nearly every shot at around 100yrds from a rest (it had a Siler Lock... very fast), once I figured the hold and scribed the sight; I used it to take several deer in Merril, Wisconsin, though I never shot one over 35-50 yards where I had a high level of confidence. When I first started making them in the mid 70's, it's a wonder I didn't create a bomb... I didn't initially know how much powder to use and I am sure there were a couple times I cheated the devil - more powder, more power, right? I finally met an older fellow, in his 90's from East Tennessee, Roy something or other, that put me right and probably saved my life. He was also the one that helped me get on the reloading track and long range precision shooting, starting with a '03 that he had that was in the best condition I have ever seen for one. Sadly, I never got his history... always wondered about that since. He used to say, precision loads, precision shots, but the biggest factor in precision was the shooter, the hardest thing to make consistent.
So, using a blunderbuss, while never having fired one, I can see one becoming a weapon of mass destruction. I once saw one that was in great condition, supposedly from the late 1700's that was made in Holland, but used in the colonies that was beautifully adorned; I wanted it, but couldn't afford it at the time. Always wondered how it would shoot.
Open carrying one might be a good criminal deterrent still. Would scare me on either side of the bore.