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Public belief in 2A
Here's latest Harris Poll. Asked if the Second Amendment supported an individual right to arms or a state right to a militia --
41% said individual right
29% said both (which I think is the correct answer, but the Harris people wondered)
Between the two, 70% believe the 2A represents an individual right.
17% said state right only, and 5% said neither (?). I assume the rest were undecideds.
So that's really (if you understand the Amendment, which the Harris people don't, a 4:1 majority for individual right. As Gene Volokh pointed out, if someone wants to argue "living constitution," it would certainly appear that the Second Amendment is "living," indeed quite robust.
Comments
Interesting, I wonder what does both mean? It is the restriction side that the 2A right would not work for both ... States could counter the US Constitution by regulating the right out of existence, like CA is doing today.
Would like to hear your views.
Posted by: bill-tb at June 5, 2008 08:03 AM
It seems to me these surveys assume that people know what gun control laws exist already. Most people do not know what laws exist and perpetually say more are needed. The ignorance is made worse by politicians claiming they need more laws to keep crime down.
Posted by: robin at June 5, 2008 08:29 AM
To me (agreeing with someone else), the second is both an Individual and a collective Right. It is a Right of individuals to come together as a Militia, bearing their personal Arms.
Posted by: Gordon at June 8, 2008 03:33 AM