It was most difficult to follow the gun control debate in the Georgia Statehouse this 40-day term. The law of Georgia was being ignored. At no point did the judicial committees speak with any knowledge of the Constitution of either Georgia or the United States of America.
As our money was wasted through this session, the U.S. Constitution Article I Section 8 discusses “arming” the militia of each state. I am attaching that portion for the purpose of educating your readers. The Second Amendment was added within the Bill of Rights, to confirm that NO restrictions would be placed upon arming “the Militia”.
So don’t waste time trying to elect representatives of the people who think that they can …”make Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.”
The Georgia Constitution, 1983 edition as amended doesn’t conflict with my reading of the above portions. Thus it would be wise to question each candidate as to their understanding of these ruling documents. The definition of militia and any other words in the original text should come from the dictionary of the writers’ own time. For the more scholarly, read the Federalist, and the Anti-Federalist Papers for their debates on this issue.
You might prepare questions for each candidate to respond to relating to the basis for this state and the United States as a whole.
U.S. Constitution Article I Section 8 (in part):
“The Congress shall have Power … To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
“To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress …”
Charles Bennett
Fayette County, Ga.
