After reading the July 5 letter "Constitutional originalism," I feel compelled to affirm that many Americans do not agree with the statist theories like those proffered by the author of the aforementioned letter. We believe that rights such as self-defense are not something that government can mete out like cheese. We believe that the Founding Fathers were smart enough to realize that a too-powerful, centralized federal government was to be avoided at all cost. To that end, they were also wise enough to know that a disarmed citizenry, whether part of a militia or not, would be akin to granting government complete dominion over the populace. To be afraid of "armed populism" would be to fall into the same trap the corrupt European governments had succumbed to -- not a desired outcome at all.
Though we have certainly failed to restrain the size and power of government, the Founding Fathers' goals remain clear. Thomas Jefferson's views on arms were typical of the day. In 1776 he wrote, "No freeman shall be debarred the use of arms …" Nine years later he wrote, "As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun... Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks." These do not sound like the words of a man who thought privately-owned firearms were something to be avoided.
To say that the Second Amendment only refers to organized militias is, at best, disingenuous and naive.
BENSON T. WILLS
North Wilkesboro
One way
It is time to stop being a Republican, Democrat, Independent or other and time to be an American.
Our elected representatives have mostly lost sight of what they were elected to do. They are blinded by the supposed power they have and want to keep that power at all costs. To do this, they have forsaken the individual American for the corporations and the special-interest groups that supply the money to get them reelected. They have also fallen prey to partisan politics and seem blind to that fact.
There is one way to solve the problem: Send them all home -- Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike -- at every election. This country needs term limits in the worst way. The American people will not get them until our elected representatives get the message.
We need to say to all of them, regardless of party, "Go on home and sit a spell, then get a real job and see how tough it is for the working American." We need to keep doing this every election until that message is driven home.
BART COLLINS
Kernersville
Caterpillar campaign
This is in reference to bringing Caterpillar to Winston/Salem. There is a campaign, the Global BDS Movement (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions), working to keep people from buying from companies that profit from Israel's occupation of Palestine. Organizers of BDS have called on churches, universities and other organizations to sell their stock in these companies. Caterpillar is on the list.
Caterpillar makes the D-9 bulldozer used to demolish Palestinians homes and fields. A D-9 bulldozer killed Rachel Corrie, a 23-year-old American peace activist who was trying to stop it from destroying a Palestinian home.
If this movement gets stronger, it may hurt Caterpillar's sales and we could be in for another Dell-type disaster. Why not bring in 10 small companies instead of one large boycotted one? Then if a couple of them went bad for one reason or another, we would still be OK.
MITCHELL M. BOSS
King
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