State Sen. John Marty in his commentary, "Serious about public safety? Regulate guns," in Wednesday's opinion section quotes the U.S. Constitution, telling us the document explicitly uses the term "well-regulated" when referring to gun rights.
Marty doesn't understand the Constitution as well as he thinks he does. In the 18th century, "well-regulated" meant being proper and organized and ready — as a militia had to be. "Well-regulated" meant having a working musket and dry powder and ball at all times. Another example was if a young man intended to go courting the parish pastor's daughter, he had better be well regulated. That is to say, he had better be clean, well dressed, well spoken, of good manners and educated if possible. In the Constitution's Second Amendment there was no intention of "well-regulated" meaning or becoming government-regulated.
Marty uses another example of government regulation that he claims resulted in the saving of lives. He tells us vehicle regulations cut the traffic death toll by 90% over the decades, per mile traveled. What he fails to mention is the billions of dollars spent on safer roads and vastly safer vehicles.
I'm glad Sen. Marty isn't focused on obesity; he would be passing laws to regulate my spoon and my fork.
Earl Faulkner Sr., Edina
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Sen. Marty is spot-on with his proposed legislation for registering and regulating guns as we do with cars. It's high time that we ceased showing American exceptionalism by beating all other countries in the slaughter of children with guns.
Jan Anderson, Inver Grove Heights