The Biden admin just announced the most significant expansion of federal background checks in a generation.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) April 11, 2024
This rule will eliminate loopholes that have allowed dangerous gun buyers to slip through the cracks.
I've been fighting for this action that will help save lives. https://t.co/3acYhNxlnT
In the ongoing discourse surrounding gun control measures, the foundational principles upon which the United States was built, notably enshrined in the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, are frequently invoked to underscore the sanctity of individual rights. This constitutional provision staunchly upholds the right of the people to keep and bear arms, emphasizing its essential role in ensuring the security of a free state. However, amidst these discussions, persistent attempts by certain individuals, often labeled as tyrants, to disarm the public, prompt renewed debates on the extent of governmental authority over this fundamental right. Recently, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts announced via social media platform X (formerly Twitter) the Biden administration’s unveiling of the most substantial expansion of federal background checks in a generation. Senator Warren underscored the importance of closing loopholes that have allowed dangerous gun buyers to evade scrutiny, emphasizing the potential of such measures to save lives. Nevertheless, what some agents in government fail to comprehend is encapsulated in the wisdom of the Alabama Constitution, Article I, § 35: “Objective of government. That the sole object and only legitimate end of government is to protect the citizen in the enjoyment of life, liberty, and property, and when the government assumes other functions, it is usurpation and oppression.” Additionally, to safeguard against governmental overreach, the people, as stated in foundational documents, affirm that the Bills and Declarations of Rights stand exempt from the general powers of government, remaining forever inviolate.
To grasp why the government was never granted authority over our rights, including the regulation of arms, it’s imperative to delve into the intent and historical context behind the Second Amendment. George Mason, in his address to the Virginia Ratifying Convention, elucidated that the militia, composed of ordinary citizens, constituted the whole body of the people. Richard Henry Lee further emphasized that a well-formed militia encompassed all men capable of bearing arms. These sentiments underscored the Founding Fathers’ conviction that an armed populace was essential for resisting tyranny and preserving liberty.
The language of the Second Amendment itself underscores the people’s right to keep and bear arms, emphasizing its necessity for maintaining a free society. As articulated by Tench Coxe and Thomas Jefferson, this right was not merely a privilege but a duty inherent in the populace. Tench Coxe stressed that the people’s right to keep and bear arms was vital for their defense against both civil rulers and military forces. Thomas Jefferson echoed this sentiment, affirming that the people’s right to bear arms was essential for preserving their liberty.
Legal precedent, such as the landmark case Marbury v Madison, reinforces the principle that any law contrary to the Constitution is void. The Constitution, as the supreme law of the land, serves as a bulwark against government overreach and ensures that the rights of individuals are protected from infringement. Chief Justice John Marshall’s assertion in Marbury v Madison that courts are bound to uphold the Constitution further solidifies the notion that governmental authority is constrained by constitutional limits.
In conclusion, the government was never granted authority over our rights, including the regulation of arms, as enshrined in the Second Amendment and supported by legal precedent. These rights are inherent and inviolable, stemming from the conviction of the Founding Fathers that an armed populace is essential for the preservation of liberty and self-governance. As stewards of freedom, it is our duty to safeguard these rights against any encroachment, by challenging those in government to provide any expressed authority given to them by the people, whom hold all political power, thus ensuring that the legacy of liberty endures for generations to come.
