The Second Amendment Explained

A comment recently argued that the Second Amendment was vague and therefore open to an interpretation that would prevent people from owning handguns. He likely got this interpretation from the writer Garry Wills who has made a good living attacking conservative ideals over the past couple of decades.

The reason for the language in the Second Amendment is that those at the time worked within an Anglo-American tradition that needed no explanation. Just as today, we would say "the dream of Dr. King" and no one would ask "what dream" or "who is Dr. King?" those of the 1790s were children of a centuries old tradition.

King Henry II helped to build this tradition with the Assize of Arms, requiring that every male citizen own some sort of weapon. Although Alfred the Great in his time had ordered the creation of a fyrd, or militia, Henry's assize was much more specific. This enabled him to get by without a standing army because all were required to help defend the realm. However, an armed citizenry meant that Henry also had to take steps to make sure those people were happy. He traveled his kingdom to make sure he was aware of the people's needs. Later it became more convenient for kings to call representatives to the capital. The partnership between ruler and ruled, cemented by an armed people, put England on the road towards democracy. A good government has nothing to fear from an armed population, but the armed population is the best insurance policy against tyranny. And don't bring up the argument about modern weapons. The experiences and/or writings of Giap, Che Guavara, Max Boot and others about guerilla warfare bely the notion that people with their own arms are powerless in modern warfare.

In the 1600s Britain knew tyranny from both power hungry kings and Oliver Cromell's dictatorship. The natural rights of life, liberty, and property were unsafe in the hands of such a government. By the 1700s British Whigs spoke openly about the need for an armed population to protect itself from tyranny. Our forefathers, according to noted American historian Bernard Bailyn, absorbed these principles like mother's milk. It was part of the justification for the Revolution itself. Meanwhile, the Indian chief King Phillip's war of genocide against New England spurred Americans on the frontier to understand that every good citizen must be armed to defend his community. Add to these historical antecedents the natural right of people to protect themselves and their property and you have the Second Amendment.

But let's imagine for a second that guns would magically vanish. Would we be safer? Maybe the strongest of us would be. I am 6'2, 250, and fairly young. I could handle a baseball bat pretty well to defend myself and my property. What if I were elderly and frail? My grandmother until she died at age eighty kept a handgun under her bed. Her husband who died in 1973 taught her how to use it and she kept it for security. She lived far from possible police protection. If there were no guns, home invaders could easily have harmed her with bats or axes. The possibility of getting shot deters a lot of these predators. Who is anyone to deny the right of the elderly or the disabled to defend themselves? How about the young woman trying to break away from a much stronger and abusive man who has promised to kill her if she ever leaves? Who is anyone to take away her right to protect herself? The intruder will think twice before entering a home if there is a possibility of the resident shooting him or her to death.

The Second Amendment's guarantee of gun rights is meant to help assist in the national defense, give property owners the ability to defend themselves and their families, and insure against a tyrannical government. Thomas Jefferson, who has been described as James Madison's collaborator to the point that one historian claimed they by the early 1790s almost shared the same mind, described the Second Amendment as his favorite because it helped protect against tyranny. This gives an important clue as to the mindset of the author, James Madison. No one at that time would have fathomed that people's right to defend their persons with deadly force would ever be questioned. It would be like questioning your right to eat whatever you wanted.

The violent will be violent, governments at some point will seek too much authority, and at some point we will face a serious attack on our territory. The first measure taken to prepare any nation for dictatorship is the removal of the citizens' guns. We must never allow ourselves to be in that position as a nation or as individuals, vulnerable to whatever strong force seeks to violate us.

How to Restore Faith in West Virginia University

Governor Joe Manchin faces desperate times in his quest for reelection as West Virginia's governor. His daughter who works for one of his biggest financial supporters received a faux MBA from a university run by his friend. Manchin also faces strong criticism over cuts to one of the state's most effective child development programs, Birth to Three. Russ Weeks has stepped up his campaigning and presents a serious challenge to the incumbent.

To restore confidence in West Virginia University and his own reputation, Manchin must turn to a man with experience that has no political ties to him. The best candidate to replace Garrison at West Virginia University (because right now everyone except Manchin seems to see the need for him to go) is Robin Capehart.

Capehart has the experience. He participated in a Fulbright exchange program with Romania and currently serves as president of West Liberty College near Wheeling. Almost as important, he has no political connections to Manchin or his friends. Capehart ran as a Republican candidate for governor in 2004, losing the nomination to Monty Warner. He also served briefly as Republican Party state chair. No stronger statement could be made concerning the de-politicization of West Virginia University than the appointment of the man who once sought to defeat him for governor. Capehart also has familiarity with West Virginia and its particular culture as well as familiarity with potential donors.

Make no mistake, our state university has developed a severe credibility problem and news outlets around the world have mentioned it. The appointment of a political adversary to the governor would go a long way towards restoring people's faith in WVU.

Mineral County Citizens see Wind Farm as Postive for County

Monday night US WindForce held a well attended informational meeting on their proposed wind farm to be located on Green Mountain in Mineral County. Not only were US WindForce officials in attendance to answer questions, but realtors, environmental scientist, turbine construction crews and engineers were also available to answer specific questions.

The proposed project will run the ridge line starting northeast of the Pinnacle and heading towards the Potomac River and contain some 50, 2.5 megawatt wind turbines. Electricity generated from wind generally is used to replace electricity generated from inefficient oil fired plants.

According to area realty statistics home values have steadily increased in the areas where wind generators are present. Recently the single most expensive home sale in Grant County was recorded within a ½ mile of the Mt. Storm wind farm. Also ridge property is increasing in value as a possible sites for wind generators and the income they generate for the land owner.

Other concerns centered on bird and bat kills. Most opponents point to bird kill studies done at Altamont Pass Wind Farm in California. When Altamont was constructed environmental groups requested that special “rock piles” be built to offset the habitat lost to the access road construction. The rock piles became good habitats for local ground squirrels which attracted birds of prey. The combination of the older high speed wind turbines and the artificially habitat basically created the unique kill conditions at Altamont. The large slow moving, higher turbines that the Green Mountain project will use, will have bird kill ratios well below those birds killed by cars and large windows in homes.

County Commission Janice LaRue said she was worried about the taxes generated by the wind farm, but the state had recently changed the laws governing the taxation of wind energy allowing the counties to get a bigger percentage. The combined effects of increase taxes for the county, the creation of high paying maintenance jobs, and generous lease revenue for land owners will greatly benefit the counties sluggish economy.

Generally people were impressed with the scope and detail of the project they were able to see. Most left with a positive attitude about the project and want to see it completed. The wind farm will be positive growth for Mineral County.

A Little Competition Doesn't Hurt

In 1938 a lot of Austrians pined for the good ol' days. Until twenty years before, they were part of a huge empire that was respected on the world stage. World War I made them smaller and seemingly irrelevant. Austria identified a great deal with their much larger neighbor, Germany because of tradition and ties. They looked askance at their new neighbors, Poland, Czechoslovakia, etc. because they did not have the money or the power of Germany. Many Austrians wanted to form a partnership with Germany, whether or nor a position of equality was possible. We all know what happened. Germany absorbed Austria and took her with it to her utter ruin and shame.

Some of Mineral County's leaders seek to form a partnership with Maryland's Garrett and Allegheny Counties, claiming that it is the obvious move. Now no power mad dictator leads those governments to war, but they have a much stronger economic position than Mineral. In any regional cooperative gesture, the Maryland interest would absorb the Mineral every time.

Cooperation with Maryland counties would hurt Mineral County in the long run because any positives attracted to the region would end up in Maryland while Mineral received the scraps. Even worse, our leaders would be forced to trumpet such scraps as progress. It is not as if these counties will lower their competitive advantage to help us anyway. Will Maryland lower their teacher salaries and benefits so that Mineral can remain competitive for those experienced hands? Of course not, that would be ludicrous. Do not count on them to willingly send any economic development our way either unless it is something inconsequential or unwanted. Also, economic development in Maryland will increase their state and county tax base, enabling them to work on their schools and infrastructure. Will Maryland divert any road or school money to a West Virginia county in the interest of brotherhood and cooperation? Of course not, again that would be ludicrous.

Mineral County's natural partners are Hampshire, Hardy, Grant, and Pendleton. Our natural competitors are north of the Potomac. Mineral must abandon its infatuation with Maryland; sure that state is more wealthy and powerful. but that suitor will use Mineral up and throw her aside. Our sister counties in West Virginia have common goals to build up our road system, make our schools more competitive, and above all attract jobs to build up the West Virginia state and county tax base. Benefits accrued in Maryland will not cross the Potomac.

We should spend our time competing with Maryland for jobs and wealth creation, not helping that state improve its already predominant position. Cooperating with West Virginia counties confers benefits. The state of West Virginia will collect tax money and allocate it to where it is needed the most by our people. I promise that Maryland's legislature will not be using their tax money to do anything for our county.

The Wrong Way to do the Right Thing

To start with, our country, state, and localities absolutely need to address the problem of illegal immigration. All government benefits, including school, ought to be halted. Those who employ non citizens knowingly, or fail to obtain correct paperwork before hiring should face stiff federal charges and even jail time in many cases. Cut off the market for illegal labor and the problem will drop dramatically. When they come to hospitals for care, turn their names over to authorities so that they can be deported quickly. Illegal immigrants get benefits from breaking the law and this is unfair to the countless people who wait their turn and do the right thing.

Also it must be said that LEGAL immigrants are some of the hardest working believers in the promise of American capitalism that this world ever sees. They are to be commended for doing it the right way and also showing us what a work ethic really is.

That being said, there was an ugly downside to the raid recently at Pilgrim's Pride in Moorefield. According to Moorefield resident Rosie Mongold, authorities sent men to the Regional Jail while the women and children were placed under house arrest with no money and no means to get food. This shows a lack of planning and foresight.

First of all, I should hope that their Regional Jail costs get covered by the federal government. The Regional Jail system over the years has been shown to be a complete blunder on the part of a consolidation obsessed state and counties cannot meet their bills as it is. Regional jails also have a reputation as being tougher places than even the state penitentiary. Second, some provision for the feeding of these families must be made above and beyond schoolteachers collecting money and buying groceries for them.

These raids are absolutely necessary and the employers need to be punished at least as harshly as the illegal immigrants themselves. However, the workers and their families should be taken together to detention centers in preparation for deportation. Immigration enforcement should have buses prepared to take care of all these people at the same time. That way they are together in a traumatic time, and all can be fed and otherwise tended to. We must enforce the law, but in doing so we must remember that children sometimes get caught up in these situations and they willingly broke no laws.