When one delves into the history of our nation, the development of our nation, the constitution and its amendments, one finds some very interesting details. In the late 1780s, for example, there was a very extended debate over what would or would not be in the Second Amendment. Go check it out!

Personalities such as Patrick Henry, George Mason and James Madison were among those who offered differing opinions on the Second Amendment before it was voted upon. Thomas Jefferson wanted the nation to rally a military when needed, but not by creating standing militias.

At that time, in the 1780s, the states of Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia has active militias roaming about. They main purpose was to patrol their respective states to keep their slaves in their place. There was a fear that one of the results of revolution and the constitution would be rebellion of slaves demanding their freedoms along with everyone else.

Representatives of these states would not agree to the Second Amendment's passage until the other representatives agree to the "right to bear arms" for their Southern militias. Finally, it was agreed upon, and the Second Amendment gave those militias the authority and armament to keep slaves in slavery to their masters.

Those events in history relate to the present, to the board of directors, sponsors, officers and leadership of the National Rifle Association. Just as the "right to bear arms" in the creation of the Second Amendment was based upon fear in Southern slave states, the present-day NRA is exploiting fear with regard to our current Second Amendment issues.


Unfortunately, both now and then, between the lines we find undertones that smack of race. Come on, people, let's get over it and get responsible to all our people and nation.

Arthur H. Kuehn