New Mexican needs to do some research

I’m writing this in response to Mr. Ashe’s Nov. 11 letter who professes to live in Albuquerque, N. M. My mind has come to the conclusion that Mr. Ashe needs to take a huge dose of reality. If Mr. Ashe will go back and read the Constitution closer and read The Federalist Papers, he might have a better appreciation to this historical document.

I see that Mr. Ashe knows how to use his First Amendment rights and cherishes the use of them. His attack on the 2nd Amendment is hypocritical. He embraces the 1st but not the 2nd. Franklin, Madison and Jefferson must have had some type of common sense to put the 2nd where it is. The Founding Fathers could have put it in as the 8th or the 12th or somewhere farther down the list of amendments, but it’s right under the 1st Amendment. That tells me it’s important.

To play devil’s advocate: How about we restrict what can be printed or published? Mr. Ashe thinks there needs to be more regulations and restrictions to what firearms one can own. After all, the amendment was written over 200 years ago. You’re right. How about putting content filters on what you can or cannot read on the Internet? Gee, the 1st Amendment was written by a bunch of old guys that didn’t foresee electronic communications. It’s just too much power for an average Joe to have. We need to restrict and tax it heavily. Lets also throw in how many letters to the editor one can write. A restriction of one letter per month should be a law. Writing too many letters means you think too much. If the letters are not something the state supports, they need to have a visit on some dark night and let them know that it would be best to write about something else besides criticizing the state.

As to the 2nd Amendment, it’s not about grandpa’s beater shotgun and going hunting. It’s about the citizens (us) protecting ourselves from an overbearing government. That means putting Joe Public on equal footing. The argument of the 2nd Amendment means the National Guard as the militia doesn’t wash. The Militia Act was passed in 1903. Again, if Mr. Ashe would read Appendix A of The Federalist Papers he would know clearly what it’s all about. Of course taking away the 2nd would also remove the teeth of the 1st. Those who have the guns, make the rules. History shows us this aspect rather well.

I also think Mr. Ashe needs to check his statistics on the murder rate. Arguing with skewed numbers will make him look rather silly.

Mr. Ashe, I hope some of this is sinking in. There’s a reason why the Constitution was written in the fashion it was, over 200 years ago. Technology changes and improves, the ideals inside the Constitution does not change. Ever.

Mr. Ashe, please keep your hate mongering down there. We have no need for your “Uncle Joe Stalin” attitude in Alaska.

Mark D. Miller

Palmer