The Second Amendment and Your Own Personal Nuclear Arsenal

After the Sandy Hook shootings, yet again the Constitutional rights of individuals becomes a central feature of the public's (very short) attention span. Wayne LaPierre of the NRA has just issued its response to the shootings (full transcript is here) and blames violent video games and films, and the media, for the shootings. Curiously, though, he does not mention the Second Amendment. However, they argue using the 2nd Amendment in their website.

For the curious, here is the text of the Second Amendment:

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

There is actually nothing there about "Arms = guns." This is simple interpretation of what is meant by "Arms." However, clearly in the modern era, "Arms" means a great deal more than "guns." We have weapons capable of eliminating swaths of people in the blink of an eye. We have weapons capable of delivering biotoxins. We have weapons that allow you to kill people without even being present! However, they're still "Arms." If you're reading into the 2nd Amendment that each individual has the right to bear "Guns," then you are actually forced into a position (Constitutionally, at least) that you're comfortable with individuals owning such weapons.

Can you own one of these to exercise your 2nd Amendment Rights?

Mourning

Today I can't focus much on work. I am too distraught by the Connecticut shooting. My son is the same age as the victims, and I continually visualize his elementary school, his principal, his teacher, his classmates, himself... as the victims of this horrible tragedy.

I see a long string of reactions.

It's because of video games.

It's because of gun control.

It's because of mental illness.

It's because of homosexuals.

And sadness. A chasm of sadness impossible to fill.