Hence the article I referenced, George: you think I'm naive, and I think you're paranoid. And so it goes... :)

From yesterday's piece by Stanley Fish in the NYTimes: "A government founded in a revolutionary moment is always vulnerable to a determination by a zealous minority that its revolutionary ideals have been compromised by itself. When that happens, each side will engage in its favored rhetoric, one proclaiming, watch out, they’re coming for our guns, the other warning that militant right-wing nuts are preparing themselves for armed insurrection. One side will cry “tyranny”; the other will reply, “You guys are crazy.” And both will claim the title of true American. That’s where we are."

Ya think? :D

"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." Easy to see what that means when you're living in the 18th century, when a militia was often needed to provide defense of the frontier before the regular army could be deployed, and flintlocks were the weapon of choice. In the 21st, not so much. To the NRA, none of this makes a difference. Why? Fear, and the paranoia it creates, sells guns. Also, it sells aircraft carriers, bombers, and tanks--X-ray machines for airports, too--but that's another story for another day. Phil, by your response, all I can say is: thanks for proving my point, and I'm thinking that hubris is the least of your concerns.

Phil, I'm not singling you out here, but your opinion--and it is an opinion, nothing more--regarding a certain interpretation of the 2nd Amendment is indicative of the current state of politics in this country; personally, I don't agree with your interpretation, and I don't agree that it's helpful to have you attempt to paint those like myself as less patriotic as you. I spent many years in the military, some in combat zones, and I believe I wore a uniform to protect our right to disagree with each other (but still be able to come to a compromise), not to divide my country into those that "defend the Constitution" and those that "want to pass unconstitutional laws." Your acting like you alone are standing between the forces of good and evil while keeping this country safe is hubris at best, and a dangerous paranoid fantasy at worst. Lighten up, Phil: those of us who dislike the tactics of the NRA love our country, too.