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Reader comment on:
Bloomberg's Foot

Submitted by Jack Weaver, Dec 8, 2006 15:08

Re footnote to December 8 editorial "Bloomberg's foot": The "favorite fact" of the editorial needs a more complete review. It's true that Congressman Elbridge Gerry was worried about the proposed Second Amendment clause that would have exempted conscientious-objectors from bearing arms. But it is clear that the source of the concern really was "something other than assuring that the people could carry."

Gerry was worried that the federal government would assume the power to decide which persons were conscientious objectors (religiously scrupulous) and keep such persons from serving in the militia.

According to the Annals of Congress, Congressman Gerry said, "Now, if we give a discretionary power to exclude those from militia duty who have religious scruples, we may as well make no provisions on this head." The words "this head" apparently referred to the Second Amendment itself. Gerry said he wanted the conscientious objector clause altered so that exempted persons would have to belong to a religious sect that was "scrupulous of bearing arms."

By the words "bearing arms," Gerry was obviously speaking of military service, not about "carrying" for personal purposes, about which Gerry said nothing.

Note: Comments are screened, and in some cases edited, before posting. We reserve the right to reject anything we find objectionable.

Other reader comments on this article

Comment By Date

As a veteran of WWII and an observer of New York City's tough stand on lawful citizens possing firearms, I... [MORE]

Charles O'Laughlin, Brooklyn, NY

Dec 11, 2006 22:11

So, using Mayor Bloomberg's logic, if a citizen of New York commits a crime elsewhere, We'll appoint a person to... [MORE]

jim hargest

Dec 11, 2006 08:39

mayor bloomberg is creating extreme heartship for me, cause i am a licenced gun holder in suffolk and was arrested... [MORE]

charles paci

Jan 29, 2007 20:35

When it took 8 months to approve my concealed carry permit in Ontario County N.Y.in 1975 I saw the"handwriting on... [MORE]

Fred Fuhrer

Dec 10, 2006 18:55

Mayor Bloomberg has no authority to go to another state and do anything! Any Federal Judge that would allow this... [MORE]

Stuart S. Strickler

Dec 9, 2006 10:49

Mayor Bloomberg wants to meddle in activities that occur everywhere else in the U.S., meanwhile he choses to ignore the... [MORE]

Charles Petrik

Dec 9, 2006 07:08

If people who question human evolution or man-made global warming are considered to be out of touch with reality because... [MORE]

woodpiggie

Dec 8, 2006 23:58

The mayor of New York is totally out of touch with real people and real life situtions. He lives the... [MORE]

Wayne Caudill

Dec 8, 2006 21:23

Re footnote to December 8 editorial "Bloomberg's foot": The "favorite fact" of the editorial needs a more complete review. It's...

Jack Weaver

Dec 8, 2006 15:08

An excellent article. Thank you. And as a non-New Yorker, I would just like to say you are exactly right.... [MORE]

David Smith

Dec 8, 2006 13:42

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