Learn why amendments written as they were

In response to Robert Vitolo’s letter (Jan. 8), “Second Amendment may have been a mistake.”

It is not possible to teach the history of the American Revolution in 300 words or less, but here are some highlights:

The British Empire controlled most of the known world in the 1700s. They were the baddest guys around.

The American Revolution lasted seven long years.

The British military occupied the city of Boston for 17 months and subjected the citizens of Boston to the every kind of abuse.

It’s very unlikely that the Founding Fathers confused the Second and Third Amendments to the U.S Constitution.

The Third Amendment forbids soldiers from taking over private homes, stealing private property and killing the occupants, all of which the British military did during the American Revolution.

The only defense people had were their own weapons, which is why we have the Second Amendment.

The first 10 amendments to the U.S Constitution, also known as the Bill of Rights, took two years to write and six months to be approved by two-thirds of the first 13 states. These amendments were fiercely debated by the citizens of every state.

In 1783, Henry Stuber wrote, “Libraries … will be the best security for maintaining our liberties.”

I would suggest people get to a library and read some books about the American Revolution so they can learn for themselves the sacrifices that all of our forebears made to free us from tyranny.

I fear that we are growing closer to tyranny every day.

Kathleen Mahoney

Augusta

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