Day after day, now I read in the paper an endless assault against guns and gun owners.

I have started to wonder how it is that our society has been so dumbed down that few people seem to have a concept of why the Second Amendment exists. And why it is that law-abiding citizens should indeed have access to and ownership of firearms.

Let us go back to the roots of American freedom. Thomas Jefferson once said, “No free man shall ever be de-barred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain their right to keep and bear arms is as a last resort to protect themselves against tyranny in government.”

When we read the Constitution, we understand that our founders believed that all men are born free and thus rights need not be given as they are naturally possessed from the start. The Constitution is therefore a restrictive document; it is one that restrains government rather than coming from government.

Until modern society understands this crucial point of history and continues to accept that our rights come from government and not the other way around, our basic freedoms will continue to be chipped away at.

History shows us that mass murderers and dictators agree on the point that gun control works — for them. I would encourage anyone who doesn’t understand that our ability to own firearms is what keeps our government from absolute rule to go back and read history. After that, go arm yourself.

Nicholas Isgro

Waterville


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