Matt Wuerker for December 29, 2015

Good one.

Idiots. The Founding Fathers could have used a more precise term like “flintlocks” but chose the term “arms” which denotes the class of tools that can be carried and used as weapons. This isn’t a “strict interpretation”; it’s an absurd one.

Yeah, technically a strict constructionist interpretation would allow for us to have fully automatic arms with armor-piercing rounds. And explosives. Whatever it takes to combat any enemies, including a domestic tyrant that might arise.

I find it really comforting to know that we have so many Constitutional experts trolling the comments section of the gocomics.com pages. I will sleep well tonight knowing that all of you are ever vigilant expounding on your knowledge while commenting on partisan cartoons.Did anybody stop to think that maybe, just maybe, we should sit back and take a good hard look at ourselves, and see if we can figure out what we (we, meaning all of us) have done as a society to churn out so many hate filled people willing to take lives in mass quantities? If you read this, and think this doesn’t apply to you, then congratulations, you are part of the problem.

We are awash in guns and getting more everyday. What a wonderful society where everybody walks around with a gun strapped on and are ready to blast away at a moments notice and they think this is rational behaviour for a civilized society.

“White guy on an overpass aiming his gun at us. That’s okay. Black kid with a pellet gun? PANIC MODE!”

A strict interpretation of the amendment would encourage the citizenry to have nuclear weapons available, as does the government.

Does the author of the cartoon realize that under his reasoning the internet, audio and video recordings,T.V. , radio, and photography would not be covered by the 1st amendment?

Nor all the religions founded since the 1st amendment was ratified?

wileywillWill Australia permit my flintlocks? Canada did.

In 1792, “arms” included bayonets and swords, arms wasn’t just firearms.

Only handwritten letters and newspapers/books printed on hand-powered printing presses enjoy 1st amendment protections. And don’t get me started on 18th century notions of what constituted marriage.

Please check the FBI violent crime statistics on the government web site……………………………………………………………https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2013/crime-in-the-u.s.-2013/violent-crime/violent-crime-topic-page/violentcrimemain_final

jeffrey cartwrightIf you are alluding to the Pennsylvania long rifle vs. the Brown Bess, you are mixing fact and legend. The first battle in history in which the rifle played a significant part was the Battle of Cowpens, well into the Revolution. Both sides were using Brown Bess through most of the conflict.