What’s sensible about common sense gun laws?

Mr. Nejdl apparently has not read the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decisions on the right to bear arms or the founding fathers’ commentary and debates on the issue.

For example, from the court’s 2008 Heller decision, “Putting all of these textual elements together, we find that they guarantee the individual right to possess and carry weapons in case of confrontation.”

The citations supporting the right to keep and bear arms outside the home from the Heller and McDonald decision, along with the founding fathers have filled books. I would like to see a compilation of documented quotes from the founding fathers that run contrary to this right.

The assertion that citizens were “granted the right to have firearms” by the government is a gross misunderstanding of fundamental rights. The second amendment does not “grant” anything; it merely creates a mandate that the pre-existing right to bear arms will not be “infringed.” Honor the Constitution’s protection by not passing laws that prohibit the bearing of arms for self-defense.

As to Switzerland, all males are required to serve in the military and are issued a military assault weapon, select fire machine gun, for storage in their home and a sealed box of ammunition. The Swiss model may be fine for calling up the militia in time of crisis, but does little for the daily criminal threats we may face daily.

As for “common sense gun laws,” prohibiting the law abiding from carrying defensive arms only guarantees that the criminals will be the only ones doing so. How is that “common sense”?

Illinois will join the other 49 states with right to carry. If the legislature fails to recognize your fundamental right, then the courts will begin to strike down the statutory prohibitions one by one.

Jack V. Forbes Jr.

Elgin