Quote Originally Posted by walkeraviator View Post
The second ammendment guarantees you the right to own a firearm. It does not give you the right to carry concealed. The right to carry concealed is indeed a priveledge and not a right. This is again why I say mandatory training requirements for concealed carry permit holders have no bearing on the constitutional right to bear arms.

Yes the constitution is a changing document. But only for things to be added. Things that have been added, have been repealed in the past, but the original 10 ammendments... the bill of rights... and the body of the original document itself are unchanging and absolute. If it were not that way then the founding fathers may have well not written it at all.\


(in case you havent noticed i am a believer in strict interpretation of the words as they were written. basically I am a libertarian.)
Walker, yes the 2nd amendment is part of the bill of rights, however, it is subject to amendment just as the 18th amendment was changed by the 21st amendment.

The bill of rights (first 10 amendments to the constitution) were presented with the constitution when ratified. There was debate then as to weather the bill of rights should actually be part of the constitution, however, it was decided to include the bill of rights as amendments and not part of the body of the constitution. The bill of rights secures much of our basic liberties, but it is possible to amend them. I still think we would serve ourselves well by supporting gun control legislation that is not burdensome yet has clear benifit. Examples alreday in place are mental compidence, felony conviction and even gun registration laws in some states. (although I think some of these ARE burdonsome).

Anyway I think reasonable gun control is needed. Otherwise we may all find ourselves in a local arms race. If felons are allowed to have guns (not all of their basic civil rights are forfited with a felony conviction so this is possible without gun legislation) and criminals have automatic weapons, explosives, etc. it would quickly get out of control.