Rabble! Rabble!

The Constitution is threatened by a tyrant. Can The Framers intercede?

Rabble!  Rabble!

“The Speaker recognizes the senator from New York.”

“Thank you.  I hereby move to introduce bill #917.  To summarize, it modifies the Second Amendment, restricting the use of firearms when not serving in our military.”

“Rabble!  Rabble!”
“Quiet!  The Speaker recognizes Mr. Madison.”

“Thank you.  This legislation is an atrocity.  We just fought a war over these sorts of restrictions.  We would never have been able to fight at all if we’d ceded our weapons to the government!  I question both the arrogance and the motivation of any man who believes he knows better than another man what possessions that man may have.  What power does the senator from New York seek over the disarmed?  Why does he put himself on such a pedestal and attempt to dominate his neighbors?  Does he seek to become a king?  I yield my remaining time to Mr. Jefferson.”

“Thank you.  The proposed legislation is both illegal and immoral.  To the first point, it is illegal because of how the Second Amendment reads. ‘Congress shall make no law…’  This phasing is not accidental.  It deliberately restricts the government, not the individual.  In fact, the entire Bill of Rights places restrictions on the government, not the individual.  Without the Second Amendment, the government can choose to ignore the first, and all the others for that matter.  We built a government with checks and balances, and the ultimate check are the people themselves.  Disarm them and government will inevitably turn tyrannical.”

“Rabble!  Rabble!”

“If I may, I’ll refer back to the Declaration of Independence.  It’s not The Constitution, yet if it has no legal standing, then by law we should still be servants of King George.  I wrote the phrase ‘we are endowed by The Creator with certain unalienable rights.’  What this means is that we are born with these rights.  They are in us, as part of our spirit, merely by existing.  They were not given to us by some government!  And government cannot take them away!  Any government which would attempt to do so is by definition tyranny.  We fought one war to overthrow tyranny already.  If this government passes this law, it will need to be overthrown as well; by force, if necessary.  To disarm the people is the most effectual way to enslave them.”

“The Senator from New York.”

“Balderdash!  I do this for the children?  This law means to protect them!”

“Rabble!  Rabble!”

“The Speaker calls on Mr. Madison.”

“It is not the responsibility of government to raise children.  They are not The Nations children.  They are The Parents children.  Secondly, any man who would attempt to manipulate this body by attempting to warp our emotions via the exploitation of children is beneath mere contempt.  Again, I question what are the true motives of such a cowardly, deceitful person?”

“All in favor?”

“Rabble.”

“All opposed?”

“Rabble!  Rabble!”

“The bill fails.”