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kleinbl00  ·  3812 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: An interesting pro-gun argument

Quite. Lost in this discussion is the licensing/training angle because the minute you bring it up, the 2nd amendment gets thrown in your face (the "well-regulated militia" aspect gleefully ignored).

In a rational universe, we'd recognize that if personal liberty and self-defense were the goal, owners of guns would be trained up and recorded ("well regulated militia") as well as organized ("necessary to the security of a free state"). And despite the fact that the 2nd amendment was created before we had a standing army. a "militia" would follow any rational civil defense model. The fact that we totally infringe the right of felons to own guns shows that some things aren't inviolate.

Legally speaking, you need a license to operate walkie talkies you buy at Radio Shack. You need a license to cut hair. You need a license to fish for trout. But somehow a license for a handgun is a bridge too far.