Reply #116: The founders inserted the 2nd Amendment to protect the 1st Amendment. [View All]

[Petrodollar Warfare]

Thomas Jefferson and the founders always stated the first amendment was the most important Right bar none, but Jefferson et al was wise enough to realize that a tryant would not honor that pivotal Right (ie. "There ought be limits to free speech.") So, they inserted the 2nd admendment as a "Disaster Recovery" plan of sorts. This is quite clear in their writings:

"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government." -Thomas Jefferson

"Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust people with arms." -James Madison

Finally, I should note that in modern day Iraq, it was not until Paul Bremer shut down Islamic cleric Sadr's newspaper in March 2004 that Sadr and his militia began violent attacks against the US troops. See the connection? Take away one's ability for freedom of dissent/expression, and you will see violence if that person(s) has the capability, very often expressed through the use of arms.

That's my take on US history and present day reality....