Pretty clever.  However, this interpretation does not accurately reflect the intent of our Founding Fathers who understood that the individual right to bear arms was second in importance only to freedom of speech (hence the Second Amendment).  How do I know this?  Let’s take a look at what our Founding Fathers had to say on the subject:  "I ask, Sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."  This was said by George Mason, also known as the Father of the Bill of Rights. 

"Firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself.  They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence ...".  This was said by George Washington.  "The supposed quietude of a good man allures the ruffian; while on the other hand arms, like laws, discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as property. The same balance would be preserved were all the world destitute of arms, for all would be alike; but since some will not, others dare not lay them aside … Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them."  This was brilliantly said by Thomas Paine.

There is also one very important group of Americans who agree with me that our Founding Fathers intended to preserve an individual’s right to bear arms with the Second Amendment: the Supreme Court.  Just this year, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in its District of Columbia vs. Heller case that the Second Amendment does in fact protect an individual right and that laws banning handguns and prohibiting the use of guns for protection in your home are unconstitutional.

Case closed. Right?  Hardly. As I said, the anti-gun forces in this country are well-funded and relentless.  Their goal is to end your right to defend yourself with a gun.  They use creative tactics like banning only certain types of guns, creating layers and layers of red tape and banning the ammunition used in guns.

But as I said, 2008 was a good year.  Let’s take a look at the some of the assaults on guns that failed at the State level this year.  In Wisconsin, bills to restrict gun shows were defeated.  In Michigan, bills were signed into law eliminating a requirement that individuals must report to law enforcement headquarters for a post-purchase safety-check.  In New York, seven anti-gun bills failed.  In Nebraska, a bill requiring trigger locks failed.  In California, failed anti-gun bills included a measure that would have allowed cities and counties to impose ordinances more restrictive than state law, one that would have required a permit to buy handgun ammunition, and another that would have required registering handgun ammunition purchases.  In Louisiana, a law to protect the right to transport and store firearms in locked, private vehicles passed.  In Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire bills to delay processing of pistol licenses, restrict concealed carry and ban the sale/ use of ammunition containing lead were defeated.

Last but certainly not least, the State of Illinois, home to our President-Elect, defeated no less than 17 anti-gun bills.  Chicago has some of the strictest gun laws in the country by the way, and yet, it is still the murder capital of the United States.  Chicago doesn’t need new gun laws that ban law-abiding citizens from owning guns for self-defense.  Chicago needs to get tough on crime and use existing laws to put violent criminals away for life.

Now you may have noticed that some of the requirements in these bills sound like good ideas.  That's the whole point.  The anti-gun forces target specific areas where they can get seemingly innocuous anti-gun measures such as ammunition registration, mandatory trigger locks, or post-purchase inspections passed.  The goal here is to increase the red tape until it becomes such a hassle to legally obtain a handgun permit and own a handgun that most citizens don’t bother.

This is what happened in India by the way. After banning guns for years, the Indian government has made it so difficult to obtain a gun, its citizens don’t even bother trying. That is why 10 gunmen were able to terrorize the entire city of Mumbai with little fear of resistance.  10 gunmen killed at least 174 defenseless people.

Thank God we’re Americans and have the right to protect and defend our families with legally owned guns. This is a right granted by our Founding Fathers and guaranteed by the Second Amendment.  Yes.  2008 was a good year, but these are dangerous times and Barack Obama is about to be sworn in.  He doesn’t believe people should be able to own guns, and he’ll have the power to appoint judges that agree with him.  We must stay vigilant.  Our very liberty depends on it.

...click here for more columns by Todd A. Carges