"We established however some, although not all its [self-government] important principles . The constitutions of most of our States assert, that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves, in all cases to which they think themselves competent, (as in electing their functionaries executive and legislative, and deciding by a jury of themselves, in all judiciary cases in which any fact is involved,) or they may act by representatives, freely and equally chosen; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed."--Thomas Jefferson, letter to John Cartwright, 1824
Bolding mine.
Living part time in the country near Mountain Lions, I see Thomas's point. I'm just not sure he would have felt it was necessary to have the kind of firepower Jared was packing in a Safeway parking lot. Or at least Old Jeff might have wanted a little more screening to make sure such weapons didn't get into the hands of someone with documented instances of drug usage and mental instability.
ReplyDeleteI felt protected by the fact that I had to go through a two week extensive background check to get my rifle here in California. Then again, I don't believe anyone's checking that, now that I've got it, I don't fall into drugs and mental illness.
Another thing to remember is in TJ's day, every well heeled gentleman was armed. Jared wouldn't have gotten very far. A well armed society is a polite society.
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