The 2nd Amendment and right to bear arms strikes me as having dual purpose. The obvious one is a lethal weapon behind every blade of grass, making enemies foreign and domestic unwilling or unable to engage in a ground war against the general population. But the less obvious one is psychological and spiritual.

It acknowledges that you have enemies who like to usurp legitimate power; you are a responsible adult to take hold of lethal counter-power and use it righteously; and you are responsible for the defence of your own freedom. The right to bear arms is also an obligation to use them against tyranny when all other means fail.

Those men (and I choose my words carefully) who shun this responsibility are leaving the women and children and elderly and disabled and weak to be predated upon by the wicked. We keep the peace by being ready to respond to such threats, but that requires vigilance, discernment, and courage.

We have become lazy, foolish, and cowardly — now it's ugly.