The Real Reason They Hate the 2nd Amendment
by John R Morgan, MD
The recent wrangling over votes, legitimacy, "the will of the people," and the Constitution has given us a unique opportunity to discuss the true meaning of the Second Amendment.
Do you think Al Gore and the people who voted for him are more afraid or less afraid to overstep their boundaries knowing that all of those red states that voted for Bush are filled with
armed-to-the-teeth boys tired of being on the losing end of the incremental cultural war? You doubt that the young men in the heartland are armed-to-the-teeth? Just walk into any hunting and fishing
store in America and watch. One by one they come – the dispossessed – buying their ammo and then absconding into the country to escape the new America and enjoy what remains of the nature that
their forefathers once enjoyed.
I think Gore and his fellow socialists are very aware, and afraid, of this hornet’s nest. It is, subconsciously, factored into every move they make.
That’s the power of the Second Amendment! It is basically an implied threat – play by the rules or else. No one ever discusses it but we all know it is there. Imagine what the liberal socialist might try
(and get away with) without this deterrent. Gore would probably already be the president-elect.
The liberals are at least pretending to play by the rules now. Without the Second Amendment, they would not even have to pretend.
The debate over the Second Amendment in recent years has focused on whether gun control increases or decreases crime. Conservatives have relied, predominately, on the research of John Lott.
Liberals have relied on the pseudo-science peddled by such people as Arthur Kellerman at my alma mater, Emory University. First, let me state that true science cannot legitimately address such an
issue (for various reasons way beyond the scope of this discussion). Secondly, the changes in crime due to gun control do not answer the fundamental philosophical question: do free people have the
right to bear arms? Our Founding Fathers thought so; and our current political predicament must reaffirm their belief.
At the risk of sounding like an "extremist," allow me to adduce the following scenario: Bush supporters versus Gore supporters in a civil war. This would be a close fight – right? The election was
essentially 50-50 – right? – gun toting, Daniel Boone-loving, heterosexual, God-fearing boys versus gun-hating feminists; gun-hating gays; and store-looting, city-burning urbanites.
To be honest, I like our chances. (For clarification, I’m one of the Daniel Boone fans.)
"What about the military?" you might ask. Well, we all know which candidate the military predominately favored in this election; and I do not believe that the soldiers have been inculcated to the point
of killing their own kin. Basically, paleoconservatism would be legitimated in such a situation – blood is thicker than water.
The military would split.
The Second Amendment debate has been intentionally superficial in an effort to sway soccer moms. Liberals advance their agenda slowly behind a deceptive veil. The goal is gun confiscation under
the pretext of stopping crime.
Soccer moms do not comprehend that they are being used (and conservatives fear they will frighten them by discussing the real issue). Liberal intellectuals, however, understand the real issue – an
armed citizenry stands immediately athwart the door leading to their Utopia.
Apathy, borne of despair and maintained by cowardice, has been the emotion supporting political moderation in the heartland of America during my 31 years. I read about people before me who
valued freedom and country enough to die for it. Now we do not even have the guts to demand legitimate debate concerning real problems.
I only wonder if somehow, someway, a sublime atavism will re-emerge from the apathetic heartland and restore our home. In the meantime, I hope our current election crisis has shed light on the
importance of the Second Amendment. I hope we understand that if our backs are ever against the wall, there is one group of Americans who can save us; and to that group let me say: Boys, Never
Give Up Your Guns!
December 5, 2000
John R. Morgan, MD, is a practicing physician in Atlanta.
