Just sent this to my senators.

[JC5123]

Senator Barrasso,

I have been monitoring the gun rights debates very closely these past weeks. I am seeing some Republicans in the Senate that seem ready to compromise. This is unacceptable. The second amendment of the United States gives us the RIGHT to keep and bear arms, with no specification of what type. As you know the second amendment is very clear that this right SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED. As I read this is seems to me that EVERY gun law on record violates the Constitution.

You are on the front lines for us. You have been elected, and given the honor to represent the great people in your state. We need you to remind your colleagues that we are not complicate in the violence that is happening. Our firearms are not complicate. These are the actions of deranged individuals, and we must hold individuals accountable for their own actions. We must stop punishing the law abiding for the actions of a lunatic. 

I implore you to stand firm on this issue and push back against the liberal politicians that are using blood liable to advance draconian laws designed simply to disarm the American populace. The second amendment is our only fail-safe against the tyranny that we are witnessing in our government today. A vote for more feel good legislation in this matter only makes you complicate in the plans of would-be dictators.

I ask you to remember us when these items come to the floor of the senate.

[Solus]

The 2A does not give us the right to keep and bear arms.

[JC5123]

The 2A does not give us the right to keep and bear arms.

Eh?

[Solus]

Eh?

It protects our rights, but does not give them.

The government has no rights to give to us.  And they cannot meddle with any of our rights, those enumerated in the Bill of Rights or not, unless they are given explicit permission to do so.

[JC5123]

It protects our rights, but does not give them.

The government has no rights to give to us.  And they cannot meddle with any of our rights, those enumerated in the Bill of Rights or not, unless they are given explicit permission to do so.

Ok so "enumerate" instead of give. Good catch. However at this point I doubt it will be read anyway.

"unless they are given explicit permission to do so."

The bill of rights explicitly PROHIBITS them from meddling. This is why I see EVERY gun law on the books as unconstitutional.

[Sponsor]

[BBJohnnyT]

It protects our rights, but does not give them.

The government has no rights to give to us.  And they cannot meddle with any of our rights, those enumerated in the Bill of Rights or not, unless they are given explicit permission to do so.

Exactly, and this is an extremely important point.  If the Constitution is the source of these rights, and "grants" these rights, then it can be inferred that these rights can be rescinded by the same government that "granted" them in the first place, through a new Amendment.  When discussing the purpose and source of the Bill Of Rights, it's important to state that these rights are inherent to all and pre-exist the Constitution, granted by God (or higher power if you prefer).  The Constitution simply acknowledges these rights to exist and the government's role is to protect these rights.  

In other words, it's important to remind our Representatives in letters and calls that these rights are not theirs to take away or even infringe upon.

[Solus]

From the Declaration of Independence


We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,


9th Amendment

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

10th Amendment

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.