Guns

Article I, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution

“Every person has a right to keep and bear arms for the defense of himself and the state.”

Defense of the State

The Second Amendment of the US. Constitution states that “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” AND Article I, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution states that “Every person has a right to keep and bear arms for the defense of … the state”.

Nobody should entertain the possibility that every person has a private right to arm themselves with weapons designed for a theater of war and organize themselves into a private "Militia" that might then overthrow the publicly elected government replacing it with one of their private choosing. I regard the very thought as being treasonous.

The people who are in a state military unit that is provisioned by the state and under the direction of an officer commissioned by the Governor are the "well regulated Militia" of that state. It is these people who have "a right to keep and bear arms for the defense of … the state”.

Self Defense

Where Article I, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution says that “Every person has a right to keep and bear arms for the defense of himself …” the matter is made quite clear. Self defense, including self defense with a weapon, is constitutionally protected.

Neither Anti- nor Pro- Gun

In what is sure to be a disappointment to people on both the left and the right, I am neither anti- nor pro- gun.

I do NOT support the private ownership of weapons designed for a theater of war. Nor do I support restricting ownership of weapons merely because they look scary. We must define what a military assault weapon is and what it is not. Once we know what a military assault weapon is, we must restrict it to military use only.

It must be understood that every person has the right to defend themselves including the right to do so with a weapon. While I support the right of individuals to own weapons for sport shooting, hunting and even as collectibles, this is NOT what was envisioned by the authors of the Michigan Constitution.

Even our most jealously guarded and well defined rights are subject to regulation and due process of law. The right to vote is accompanied by the duty of voters to register and identify themselves. And freedom of speech does NOT protect individuals who engage in liable or slander.

Weapon ownership, the possession of weapons and the use of weapons is likewise subject to regulation and due process. Gun owners are NOT permitted to carry their weapons into prisons, court room or onto military bases. Convicted felons may NOT be allowed to own or carry a weapon. The question then becomes NOT whether weapon ownership, possession and use is subject to regulation but what regulations are reasonable and necessary to protect the rights of responsible gun owners and keep the public safe from irresponsible gun use.

Nobody who is passionately anti- or pro-gun is going to be happy with my position on gun ownership, possession and use. In the immortal words of Rhett Butler, "Frankly ... I don't give a damn!"

The vast majority of my gun owning neighbors are responsible gun owners who have no difficulty with reasonable and necessary regulations on gun ownership, possession and use. Likewise, the vast majority of my non-gun owning neighbors are NOT intolerant of gun ownership and are NOT asking for unreasonable or unnecessary regulations. The unyielding and intolerant minority will have to look elsewhere to find a champion for their rivalry.