To the editor: There are people in this country who believe that Americans no longer have the right or never had the right to own guns. It goes back to the meaning of the Second Amendment. The Second Amendment states, “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.” The way the words are written leaves some doubt as to the true meaning. Anti-gun people focus on the first part of the amendment and believe that the Second Amendment meant that only members of a state militia should be allowed to possess guns. Pro-gun people focus on the last part of the amendment and believe all people have the right. What the anti-gun side is unwilling or unable to understand is that the people were the militia when the Second Amendment was written. When men were called to form the militia they brought their own weapons.

Anyone of moderate intelligence should be able to understand the gist and spirit of the words in the amendment. Another logical conclusion to support the right to possess guns was the time in history people were living. America was a vast wilderness and danger lurked everywhere. Wild animals, Indians, road bandits, drifters and opportunistic criminals were a part of daily life. People used guns for protection, to hunt wild game and put down and protect livestock. To suggest that the Founding Fathers did not intend for the people to be armed is absurd.

The mostly liberal press usually portrays the man with the gun as a criminal. Law-abiding citizens who protect their person, family or property with a gun seldom get notice. Every day in this country someone protects themselves or their property with a gun.

The country hasn’t changed that much in the last 200 years. There are still road bandits (carjackers and armed robbers) and opportunistic criminals (murderers, rapists and thieves). Americans need to be armed for their own safety. Criminals are cowards and will retreat when confronted with serious resistance. The police cannot protect everyone and usually arrive at crime scenes after the crime has been committed.

People who want to disarm America are either fools, criminals or belong to groups that have an unclear or suspicious agenda.

RANDY GRIMSLEY

Griffin resident