When constructing any plan, we try to anticipate any contingencies, aberrations or impediments. Usually we are not successful. When this happens and we encounter difficulty, we must revise the plan.
The Constitution, in its original form, was a masterful document but, alas, not perfect. The founders recognized that as times changed, some amendments would be necessary so they provided a method in the Constitution. Some things were left out of the original, not by design but because some things were so commonly accepted that they saw no need to include them. Obviously, the difficulty of the process was to ensure that most of the people wanted it. It was clear that frivolous changes would not gain enough support to pass. Only serious matters, which had been considered givens but were now being questioned or threatened in some way, would ever have a chance of passing.
I don't know what challenges had been made against freedom of speech and religion, but if none had been made, the question of protecting them in writing would not have come up. The same is true of all the amendments.
What spurred the addition of the second amendment? Was there a threat felt by the states from some outside source, like the federal government. The settlers and pioneers had always been armed for a variety of obvious reasons so the question of protecting that right in writing must have come from some threat to that common practice. I don't know what that was but I am certain that the idea didn't come from a bunch of citizens having a drink at the local pub who suddenly decided, "You know what, we should amend the Constitution to.....". There was enough concern among the States that they wanted it in writing.
Today and from time to time, certain rights are routinely ignored by government without penalty. I believe the second amendment was meant to ensure that when these kind of things happen, as a last resort, the people would have a way to prevent it.
The Constitution, in its original form, was a masterful document but, alas, not perfect. The founders recognized that as times changed, some amendments would be necessary so they provided a method in the Constitution. Some things were left out of the original, not by design but because some things were so commonly accepted that they saw no need to include them. Obviously, the difficulty of the process was to ensure that most of the people wanted it. It was clear that frivolous changes would not gain enough support to pass. Only serious matters, which had been considered givens but were now being questioned or threatened in some way, would ever have a chance of passing.
I don't know what challenges had been made against freedom of speech and religion, but if none had been made, the question of protecting them in writing would not have come up. The same is true of all the amendments.
What spurred the addition of the second amendment? Was there a threat felt by the states from some outside source, like the federal government. The settlers and pioneers had always been armed for a variety of obvious reasons so the question of protecting that right in writing must have come from some threat to that common practice. I don't know what that was but I am certain that the idea didn't come from a bunch of citizens having a drink at the local pub who suddenly decided, "You know what, we should amend the Constitution to.....". There was enough concern among the States that they wanted it in writing.
Today and from time to time, certain rights are routinely ignored by government without penalty. I believe the second amendment was meant to ensure that when these kind of things happen, as a last resort, the people would have a way to prevent it.
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