This should end the gun control debate

Well, the recent Supreme Court ruling on gun control has reignited the smoldering debate all over again.

The pro gun control people say the Second Amendment says "In order to maintain a well regulated militia," so in their minds they feel the Second Amendment applies only to the military - Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard, Coast Guard, state militias, etc. The pro gun people slide right past that "militia" part and go straight to the part that says "the right of the people," so they feel it means all citizens. And the whole debate goes round and round on that poor little, innocent word "militia."

The funny thing is, about the same time our Founding Fathers were writing our Constitution and the first set of amendments - including that pesky second one - this fellow by the name of Webster thought it might be nice if someone wrote a book with all the words (and their definitions) listed in it. He thought it would make written things, including important government documents, easier to write, easier to read, and easier to understand.

And you know what? That word "militia" is listed in that book. Many people (on both sides) will probably be surprised to learn the real meaning of it. Are you ready? According to Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: "Militia - Armed Citizenry, Separate and Distinct from the Military." So, obviously, when the Founding Fathers wrote "In order to maintain a well-regulated militia, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be abridged" they were really talking about everyone who is NOT in the military.

Thank you, Mr. Webster, for clearing that up. Now, can we stop arguing about whether or not law-abiding citizens can own guns? Then maybe we can all get together to rationally figure out how to get the guns away from the criminals.

Ed Emerson

East Dundee