Driving is a privilege. Owning guns is a right. There’s no comparison between them | Opinion
Privileges, rights
The July 28 commentary “2nd Amendment is an 18th century relic. Repeal it” (6A) made specious arguments for the repeal of the Second Amendment. Despite author Doug McGaw’s claim, there is no equivalency between driving privileges and constitutionally protected gun ownership rights.
Furthermore, the argument that the framers of the Constitution didn’t foresee technological advances is simply counterintuitive. They were certainly aware of the advances in firearms ignition technology from matchlock to wheel lock to flintlock and the transition from smoothbore to rifled barrels, and they would have had no reasonable expectation that firearms advances would not continue.
Also, given the current trend around the globe (and certainly here in the U.S.) toward authoritarian governance, the potential for “a threat to the security of the separate states” is by no means a “relic of the 18th century,” as former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens said.
Finally, a “well-regulated militia” refers not only to the National Guard. U.S. Code specifically defines an unorganized militia, “which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard.” (And “well-regulated” in this context doesn’t mean “controlled,” but “operational,” which includes equipped.)
The Second Amendment is germane today.
- Charles Black, Leavenworth
We’ve changed
Doug McGaw’s commentary about the Second Amendment being a relic of history was the sanest, clearest assessment of the current situation I’ve read. He presented sensible and relatable thoughts distinguishing between rules and laws and explaining the history of how they apply to automobiles and guns.
Today’s society is not that of the 1770s, as shown by the changes in our laws governing methods of transportation. The colonists’ primary weapons were muskets. Neither today’s cars nor weapons were envisioned.
Gun laws must change to protect us from the senseless threat of weapons intended for war that are killing so many of us.
- Shirley Laufer, Kansas City
Happily warped
Am I the only one missing the Warped Tour? I attended the traveling festival from 2006 until it ended in 2019. I have a collection of CDs from acts who never made it onto mainstream radio that I still enjoy to this day: Alana Grace, Ballyhoo!, The Maine, Andy Black, Jule Vera, We the Kings, We Shot the Moon, Kaya Stewart, SayWeCanFly, We Are the In Crowd and Every Avenue.
The Warped Tour day was the best day of the summer.
- John Ingram, Raymore
In a name
Dear John Sherman,
How about we rename The K as The S? That would accomplish two things: Satisfy your ego and save us taxpayers millions of dollars.
We don’t need a new stadium. We need a better team.
- Susan Meinders, Lee’s Summit
