This post is a response to feedback from a reader - I'll call him Mike - who says "You will stop having anyone to vote for as no politician can expect to repeal the 2nd Amendment. I can only hope for modification of it to bar assault weapons." This point of view summarizes the problem we have in dealing with gun control. Mike is a gun owner who, like a majority of gun owners and a majority of citizens in general, favors some regulation of gun ownership. Unfortunately, the Founding Fathers, in their wisdom, have left us the Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments) that cannot be modified. Our only option is repeal. No matter how large a majority favors regulation of gun ownership, the combination of the 2nd Amendment, the Electoral College, the shrill opposition of the gun lobby and the dubious legal principle of originalism ensures that there will never be legislation regulating gun ownership. Even restricting terrorists from acquiring guns is opposed by the gun lobby and the legislators in its pocket. I agree that no politician can expect to repeal the 2nd Amendment. It is equally true that no politician can ignore the clear expression of public opinion. We the people must take responsibility for the situation we find ourselves in. If in one election after another voters make it clear they want change on this front, change will come about. The circumstances that caused the Founding Fathers to reach the compromise that is the Bill of Rights in order to achieve ratification of the Constitution cannot be allowed to thwart the will of the people and prevent us from moving with the times forever; especially since, as I said in my last post, the 2nd Amendment, contrary to its original intent is now itself threatening the security of the free state by giving insurrectionists and terrorists access to lethal weapons. Repeal alone can clear the way for common sense laws regulating gun ownership. If national security does not take priority over other issues, I don't know what does. If voters are unequivocal on this issue even the staunchest originalist judges would be unable to stand in the way. Let us vote like this is important to us, because it is.
As I said in my response to Mike, go big or go home.