Armed For Independence or For Power - 2nd Amendment Rights:

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
I just heard one of the most fallacious anti-gun arguments trotted-out on radio again .. that the US 2nd Amendment was OK back in the day (1791) of flintlock muzzle-loaders - but it shouldn't apply nowadays to "Assault Rifles".

WRONG: In 1791 the flintlock rifle was the main arm of Government - and the right to possess that same weapon for the security of a free State gave the citizen similar strength to that of the ruling authority's troops.

Today - the US Government has .. not only semi-fully-auto "assault rifles" - but also 6,000 rounds-per-minute rotating barrel 'mini-gun' cannons, M1A2 Abrams Tanks, fuel-air explosives, nerve gas, cluster bombs, nuclear weapons, stealth bombers & fighters ad infinitum. The Citizen's right to bear arms in parity has been much diluted by this "progress".

Since 1791 the power of the American Executive has hugely expanded. The US's Military strength currently exceeds that of the combined strength of the next eight strongest forces together - depending on how you calculate it. The American people's taxes pay for US$ 580 BILLION spend on it's Military every year - and they maintain over 800 military bases in 150 countries outside of mainland USA.

There's a morality argument here too - how empty is it to condemn evil 'assault weapons' while knowing millions of them are being bought by the political bosses for enforcement purposes by the military?

 There are TWO U.S. military bases in New Zealand. The largest is at Harewood Airport, Christchurch, where under the cover of the U.S. Antarctic Research Program, the military maintains a general purpose Naval depot, an Air Force Military Airlift Command Base, and a Naval Communications Unit (part of which is situated at RNZAF base, Weedons).

 And at Mount John - the U.S. Air Force's Satellite Tracking Station pinpoints the position of enemy satellites so that in the event of nuclear war the U.S. Aerospace Defense Command can shoot them down. The operations base for Mount John is at Washdyke, near Timaru.

I am not complaining here - I just believe that we all should know the facts. For example .. we citizens of 'NUCLEAR FREE NEW ZEALAND' should know that we own x6 Lockhead P3K2 ORION anti-submarine warfare aircraft based at Whenuapai - who's primary designed armament is nuclear depth-bombs & torpedos.

That 'Stinger' in The Tail is The MAD Boom
- Magnetic Anomaly Detector Used To Locate Underwater Vessals.

A current upgrade will equip the aircraft with a new underwater intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability package in order to boost the P-3K2 planes’ anti-submarine warfare capabilities.  This so-called anti-submarine acoustic processing system will be very similar to the one installed aboard the U.S. Navy’s P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft. (Australia runs x12 P-8A's)

What is an "Assault Weapon" or an 'assault rifle' anyway? ANY tool can be used to assault someone. How about an 'Assault Truck' - 'Assault Axe', or an 'Assault Screw-driver' ?

Personally I think the US needs a few amended laws to curb excess .. like tighter BANKING Regulations, Lobbying Regulation, Tax Regulation, CORPORATE Control, Health Care and decent limits on ages & safety training for gun users - but I'm not a US citizen and it's hard to get politicians to do something useful anywhere.

Marty K.