As a candidate for state office the National Rifle Association, NRA, sent me a questionnaire to know where I stand on certain issues. All political action groups do this to see if they want to endorse you as a candidate. I specifically want to address the NRA in this editorial.

The first question asked was what I expected. Do you agree that the second amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees an individual right to keep and bear arms?
Answer as Yes or No.

This question is the basis for how all other questions on the questionnaire would be answered. Therefore, I am responding to this question and this question only.

I have cleared my mind from all things past 1791. I put myself at 20 years old with a wife and newborn child in the year 1776. I fought in a war using the weapons that I owned. I fought in the same style that I used when I went hunting for food. I had a collection of a rifle, pistol, tomahawk and some spears I used for fishing.

I was a peaceful man and wanted my family to be free and safe. I lived in an area where we took care of ourselves. People were born here, got their education here, most married and spent the rest of their days here. We knew each other and we took care of each other.

If we saw someone we didn’t know or heard a name we didn’t know we had to question who and why this person was here. Since we did not know the person we had to find out what his intent was and discern what his motives are. Strangers were not friends that we had not got the opportunity to know. Strangers were strangers. Period.

We knew the importance of having a militia. However, we were a peaceful conservative group who put their priorities on family values and working the land. We were not like people in other states who made their first priority be of defense. They made a stockpile of standard issued rifles and pistols. They were always ready for war. We were not but had the confidence that we could fight, if needed to. I coined the phrase BYOW, Bring your own weapon. That’s all we had to fight with at the time.

Time went by and we were able to stock pile standard issued rifles and ammunition. I still preferred my own hunting rifle and the way I made ammunition, a trade secret of my own. I could load a shot faster than any of my peers. I could boast about getting 2 shots for their one. I loved my rifle. It was an extension of myself. My rifle was named Eddie.

In 1791 we read Amendment II of the bill of rights.

A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

My buddies and I were not the greatest readers. We read the amendment over and over again. Each time we read it gave different meaning. You know, like reading a passage of scripture. One day it has one meaning to you and the next day you can read the same passage and find a different meaning? You would have thought we were in bible study when we discussed Amendment II.

The interpretation had different meanings for different folks. I found it exactly like scripture. One day it said one thing to me, the next day it gave me a different perspective. Choosing the interpretation that I wanted to hold steadfast to was impossible.

Again, it was just like some of my favorite scriptures. The meanings were many. I could liken it to scriptural ping-pong, going back and forth on interpretation.

One day it meant to me that I could use Eddie rather than one of those muzzle loading flintlock muskets. The next day it meant I had to keep good old Eddie at home and use a standard issued weapon like a minuteman would. The next made me think I could not have weapons of my own, just what was assigned to me by the militia.

The only word I could hold on to, at this point, was my acronym BYOW,Bring your own weapon. What did I consider to be my weapon? Well, that changed to. The standard issued weapon that was assigned to me was considered my own. Still good old Eddie was mine too.

I tried to become both judge and jury on the amendment. In this perspective it came down to the letter of the law versus the spirit of the law.

Again, the best that I could come up with in 1791 and also today in 2008 is BYOW.

BYOW – My Choice

Question: Do you agree that the second amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees an individual right to keep and bear arms?

Answer: BYOW