I recently came across an eye-opening article written by Thom Hartmann for Truthout. Its title: “The Second Amendment was ratified to preserve slavery.”

It seems that slave states depended on “slave patrols” to secure what they considered their “property”; service in these “militias” was virtually mandatory. And our slave-accruing “founders” were terrified that Article 1, Section 8 of the new Constitution would give the federal government too much power to regulate, even dismantle, these bodies.

As Patrick Henry complained, “ … a state cannot suppress (slave) insurrections … Congress, and Congress alone, can call forth the militias.” And, “They will search (the Constitution), and see if they have power (to emancipate the slaves). And have they not, sir?”

Scareeee!

So amendment-crafter James Madison began work on what would become the second one. It is no coincidence that the word “country” became “state” in the final draft. And this explanation certainly sheds light on the amendment’s seemingly inexplicable wording. So, I guess said amendment isn’t about liberty after all. In fact, all those kids had to die because these schmucks were desperate to preserve their slave holdings. What a country.

Cindy Adhikari

Cedar Rapids